DOH mulls tapping celebrities to promote condom use

The Department of Health (DOH) is planning to tap the services of a celebrity to promote the use of condoms as a safety measure against HIV/AIDS infection, a television report said Tuesday. DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral, in an interviewed aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras," said they have not set specific qualifications for the celebrity except that he or she must be a volunteer. “Lalake man babae, pero kung merong gustong mag-volunteer, masayang-masaya namin silang tatanggapin (We will gladly accept them if they volunteer regardless of gender)," she told GMA News’ reporter Steve Dailisan. She added that the celebrity must promote the use of condoms not only for safe sex but also as an effective tool to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. But this early, a Catholic bishop is discouraging celebrities from appearing in such advertisements.

“Ang advertisement ay hindi lamang basta pagpapahayag ng isang bagay o katotohanan, ito ay nakabatay dapat sa moral truth (An advertisement is not just a simple announcement of facts, it must be based on moral truth)," said Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. in the same report. Cabral and members of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) are locked in a word war regarding the use of condoms. Some bishops are even calling for Cabral’s resignation. The CBCP associates condoms and other artificial birth control methods to promiscuity. Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, CBCP media director, said they are willing to have a dialogue with Cabral on the issue. “It’s better to talk than not to talk," he said. Quitorio clarified that it was not the CBCP who challenged Cabral to a debate as earlier reported. “It was not the CBCP or the bishops who summoned that [debate], rather it was Ligaya Acosta. But it came out in the media as if we were the ones who called for it," said Quitorio. Acosta is the executive director of the Human Life International, a pro-life non-government organization. “But on our side we see nothing wrong with that," he added. - KBK, GMANews.TV