An official of the Department of Education in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) said Thursday promoting gender equality in education starting from kindergarten can prevent bullying in schools.

DepEd-CAR director Dr. Estela Cariño said there are children who understand others who have different orientations or are showing a different sexual orientation, preventing bullying from happening.

Cariño said as the learners enter higher grade levels, gender equality is strengthened in science classes.

“We strengthen that not only in values education but also in their science class because they are already in the stage asking questions and the topic on sexuality, reproductive health is discussed and thus gender (is) being integrated,” she said in an interview on the sidelines of the Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) assembly here.

Cariño said issues of sexuality particularly LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender) is “not a big problem” in the region as more people have accepted one’s gender preference amid the implementation of the anti-bullying policy.

Philippine Commission on Women regional head Nharleen Santos Millar cited the critical role families play in informing the children about gender issues as they spend about four to six years in the family before they go to school.

Leo Quintilla, director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-CAR, said the DSWD has embedded gender and development in its programs and services.

Quintilla, also Regional Gender and Development Committee of the Regional Development Council chair, said the regional assembly aims to encourage different local government units, regional line agencies, state universities, and civil society organizations to implement gender and development programs and services. (PNA)