(PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – A laity group has joined the call of CIBAC Party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva for a legislative inquiry on the planned inclusion of same-sex unions and related topics in the proposed curriculum for students from Kindergarten to Grade 10.
The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (LAIKO) is also pushing for a thorough study on the proposal of the Department of Education (DepEd) to include in the curriculum of Grade 10 students the topics of gender fluidity, same-sex partnerships, and same-sex marriage, among others.
"The Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas supports the call of Bro. Eddie Villanueva for an inquiry as to the possible violation of the country's Constitution by the Department of Education. We call on our legislators and educators/curricularists to consider a deeper probe on this very important matter, and to call for a review of the entire draft," LAIKO president Raymond Daniel Cruz Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.
The LAIKO official noted that they support Villanueva’s statement that the introduction of such topics violates the 1987 Constitution.
Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State "shall promote and protect the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being" of the youth.
"We join him in the belief that introducing these topics may not align with that mandate," Cruz said. "The draft clearly promotes the significance and advantages of same-sex unions and could have profound implications on the moral development of the nation's youth."
The DepEd earlier announced the revised draft curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 10 students, with the proposed curriculum for Araling Panlipunan 10 subject including lessons on gender identities and the significance and advantages of same-sex unions.
Villanueva, head of the Christian sect Jesus is Lord Church, expressed opposition to the proposed curriculum, saying it is "anti-God" and "unconstitutional.” (PNA)
