Charles Teves
Circumcision may not be a big deal in many countries, but it is in the Philippines. Being circumcised is almost a requirement for every single male because it signifies transitioning from a boy to a man.
The COVID-19 crisis in the country has made it difficult for various activities to continue operations on a daily basis, including circumcision.
But this isn’t a problem for the Municipality of Carmona, as the process has been made possible through creativity.
Carmona has a concept called ‘tuli on wheels’, where a bus, previously used for as a mobile dental clinic, has been equipped with materials used for circumcision and is going from household to household offering uncircumcised boys to get it done inside the bus.
The health workers inside the vehicle are wearing complete PPEs, and the patient’s temperature is checked before proceeding.
The entire process is only 20 minutes long, and around 15 to 20 children a day are able to get circumcised.
The “Oplan Manhood on Wheels” started on April 1, according to Carmona mayor Roy Loyola. Carmona aims to get at least 600 children circumcised by the end of the month.
The municipality has gathered all the right equipment for circumcision, even before the implementation of the ECQ.
“Nandiyan na ‘yong mga gamot namin eh. We’ve acquired them bago pa mangyari itong enhanced community quarantine.
Carmona only has 1 confirmed case of COVID-19, and that person has reportedly recovered.
The removal of foreskin in the Philippines is a centuries-old rite of passage to adulthood. The country has one of the highest rates of male circumcision in the world.
Thousands of boys, mainly from poor areas get it done for free with no anesthesia, at the nearest government or community-sponsored clinics.
Data from the World Health Organization suggests that 90 percent of Filipino men get circumcised for non-religious reasons.
Professor Romeo Lee of De La Salle University has done his research on the tradition and said that boys do this mainly because they don’t want to be called ‘supot’.
“The term ‘supot’ implies that one is different and a coward… for lacking the courage to experience the pain and anxiety.”
Critics say the tradition is a form of ‘child abuse’, but studies say circumcision helps keep the private part clean.
