The Philippine Online Chronicles

The Department of Health (DOH) started giving out free condoms for Valentine’s Day. Dr. Eric Tayag, a ranking official of DOH led the HIV-AIDS awareness activity as he gave away fliers and free condoms to patrons buying flowers at Dangwa Market in Manila.

DOH has set up booths carrying the slogan "Are You Sexually Active?" The condom project is part of the DoH's drive against the spread of sexually transmitted diseases under the "Ingat Lagi, My Valentine" (Always be careful, my Valentine partner) program, Agence France Presse reported.

Dr. Ed Janairo, head of the DOH’s National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said the condom-giving campaign was meant to raise awareness for HIV-AIDS prevention and not for family planning. He said the condoms were given for free by condom manufacturers, inquirer.net reported.

Meanwhile, Malacanang and the Catholic Church were annoyed with DOH’s program.

Palace Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said he is not aware of any government program to give away condoms. “Our policy on condoms is very simple: We do not give out condoms for contraception. If they want to use it for other matters that is none of our business," Gulf News posted.

He added that such activity is scandalous and goes against the Philippine government's policy against artificial contraception.

In a france24.com report, Dr. Tayag defended the promotion, saying the government needed to act to check the rising number of AIDS infections in the country. He said most people who have AIDS don't even know they already carry the virus because of low degree of public awareness of the danger. “Some people seem to think that you can get the virus through kissing," Tayag said.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was also offended with the DOH’s program. In an interview with GMA News, CBCP spokesman Monsignor Pedro Quitorio said the promotion encourages "promiscuous" activities. “We must only encourage sexuality in the context of marriage,” he said.

Archibishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said, “It is vulgar, it is lewd, it is gross. To what extend would they entice young people to be promiscuous? How far are they willing to go in promoting illegitimate carnal relations?”

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