Angara Unveils New Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Policy: A Balancing Act Between Science, Culture, and Protection of Learners

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

MAKATI CITY, September 4, 2025 — In a decisive move that reshapes the conversation on how young Filipinos will learn about one of life’s most crucial topics, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced a new Department of Education (DepEd) policy on Reproductive Health Education (RHE), replacing the previously controversial Comprehensive Sexuality Education program.

Guided by DepEd Order No. 025, s. 2025, the initiative underscores a bold promise: to provide adolescents with knowledge that is scientifically accurate, culturally sensitive, and developmentally appropriate—all while safeguarding Filipino values in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect learners’ welfare.

A Paradigm Shift in Education

For decades, debates over sexual and reproductive health education in the Philippines have polarized parents, educators, religious leaders, and policymakers. Angara’s announcement attempts to bridge these divides by introducing a model that blends evidence-based science with the moral compass of Filipino traditions.

"Layunin ng bagong polisiya natin na maturuan ang ating mga mag-aaral patungkol sa reproductive health ayon sa kanilang edad. We are also emphasizing that the implementation of this new policy will be culturally sensitive and contextually relevant," Angara stressed.

The program will be rolled out starting in Grade 5, targeting learners between 10 to 19 years old—a demographic that experts recognize as being at a pivotal stage of growth, identity formation, and vulnerability.

Anchored in Law, Built on Sensitivity

The framework is rooted in Republic Act No. 10354, the landmark Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012, but it has been recalibrated to focus on three pillars:

Health – promoting physical well-being and debunking harmful myths.

Personal Responsibility – encouraging accountability in choices and actions.

Respect in Relationships – instilling values of empathy, equality, and safety.

To ensure effectiveness, the program will be taught only by adequately trained teachers who will undergo continuous professional development. This approach recognizes the complexity of delivering lessons that often touch on sensitive, sometimes taboo, topics.

DepEd has further assured stakeholders that all teaching materials will be scientifically accurate, evidence-based, and free of ideological bias—a direct response to critics who once claimed sexuality education risked promoting “immorality” or misinformation.

Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Student Safety

Beyond physical health, the policy squarely confronts one of the most urgent issues plaguing schools: gender-based violence. RHE will integrate modules that highlight respect, consent, and protection, empowering students to recognize and reject abusive behaviors.

By doing so, DepEd is not only teaching about biology and reproduction but also building safer learning environments where both boys and girls are respected as equals.

Parents as Partners, Not Bystanders

Perhaps the most striking element of the new policy is its explicit inclusion of parents. No longer sidelined, parents will be engaged through:

Information dissemination campaigns,

Community consultations, and

Capacity-building activities that mirror the lessons taught in schools.

The move recognizes that true reproductive health education does not end in classrooms but is reinforced—or contradicted—at home.

"We want to ensure that our adolescent learners are equipped with the right knowledge on RHE. This policy is not just about disseminating information—it is about shaping responsible learners who uphold Filipino cultural values, traditions, and beliefs," Angara affirmed.

The Balancing Act Ahead

The new RHE policy is being hailed as a compromise between progressive science and conservative tradition, but it also sets a high bar for execution. Success will depend on how effectively teachers are trained, how well parents are engaged, and how consistently schools uphold the promise of accurate, respectful, and values-driven education.

In a country where adolescent pregnancy rates remain alarmingly high, misinformation is rampant, and gender-based violence continues to scar many students, this reform is more than just a curriculum change. It is a national commitment to protect the next generation—mind, body, and spirit.

If implemented with fidelity and courage, Angara’s policy could mark a historic turning point in the Philippines: where reproductive health education finally transcends controversy, and where learners are empowered not just with facts, but with values that prepare them for life.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.