CBCP to DOH: No more condom distribution on Valentine's Day

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) appealed yesterday to the Department of Health (DOH) not to give away condoms to couples this Valentine’s Day.

Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said the distribution of condoms would only send wrong information especially among the youth that it is alright to engage in early sexual intercourse as long as it is safe and protected.

The DOH, under the leadership of former Health secretary Esperanza Cabral, handed out free condoms on Valentine’s Day last year as part of its campaign to curb the increasing HIV/AIDS cases in the country.

Cabral is a staunch supporter of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill which promotes the use of modern contraceptives to address the country’s ballooning population.

“The promotion of condom would only reinforce the attitude and behavior towards sex which is already irresponsible... we should impart the right message to the people particularly the youth which is faithfulness within the marriage or if they are not yet married, total abstention,” Castro said.

“We have to insist on that because the ultimate solution to that (curbing HIV/AIDS cases) is not the use of condom, not promoting the so-called safe sex because it will just be a part of deception on the part of promoters,” he said.

The DOH said a total of 174 new HIV cases were confirmed last December, the highest number of cases reported in a month since 1984.

It said a total of 1,591 HIV positive cases were recorded by the DOH from January to December last year.

Castro noted that the DOH still recorded a rise in the number of Filipinos afflicted with the virus despite their intense campaign to stop the spread of the disease by distributing condoms.

“We will not be surprised even if they distribute condoms this year, there will still be an increase in HIV cases because the government itself is the one promoting it,” Castro stressed.