Philippines education officials have confirmed that sex education lessons will be incorporated in the curriculum of 80 elementary and 79 high schools while the Catholic Church says it is seeking advice on its legal options.

However, Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, told ucanews.com that he will consult with CBCP lawyers and with episcopal advisers concerning the legality of the Education Department decision.

“Based on our advice, we’ll make our position clear,” Odchimar said.

Bishop Odchimar also stated that the government had not fulfilled a promise to consult Church officials before implementing the program.

Meanwhile, education officials insisted that the bishops have no need to worry about the program.

Assistant Education Secretary Teresita Inciong suggested that teachers could delete portions of the teaching modules that the Church may find offensive.

Classroom sex education “is not about the sex act but about the science of reproduction, physical care and hygiene, correct values and the norms of interpersonal relations to avoid pre-marital sex and teen age pregnancy,” she insisted.

“In Grade 5, teaching about the reproductive system is very clinical,” Inciong said.

“Copulation is not included (but) the flow of the egg cell meeting (the sperm cell) is,” she added.

The program will be pilot-tested in Grades 5 and 6 classes and in high schools in Olongapo City, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Masbate, Bohol, Eastern Samar, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Sultan Kudarat.

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