Marcos opposes 'woke absurdities' in teen pregnancy prevention bill
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed his strong opposition to certain provisions of Senate Bill 1979, or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, saying he will veto it if it is passed in its current form.
During a media interview in Taguig City, Marcos said he was "shocked" and "appalled" by the bill's "woke" elements.
"I was shocked and I was appalled by some of the elements of the [bill] because this is all the woke that they trying to bring into our system," he said.
The president also described the bill as "ridiculous" and "abhorrent" as it seeks to teach children to masturbate and take away parents' authority over their children.
"You will teach 4-year-olds how to masturbate that every child has the right to try different sexualities. This is ridiculous, it is abhorrent. It is a travesty of what sexual and sex education should be to the children," Marcos said.
He continued, "What about the parents? Wala na silang karapatan na sila ang mag-decide na kung ano at kalian tuturuan yung bata."
Although he clarified his support for sex education "in terms of teaching kids the anatomy of the reproductive system of male and female, the consequences of early pregnancy and the prevalence of HIV", Marcos emphasized that he "strongly disagrees" about some aspects of the bill, citing his opinion as a grandparent.
He explained: "Kailangan ituro lahat 'yan para alam ng kabataan pero yung mga sinama nila na mga woke na absurdities are abhorrent to me."
The president added, "I am already guaranteeing na hindi pa napasa ito. Pero if this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee all parents, teachers, and children, I will immediately veto it."
S.B No. 1979 was submitted by the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality joint with the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development; Health and Demography; and Finance last March 2023.
It was authored by Senators Risa Hontiveros, Imee Marcos, Ramon Revilla, Jr., Sonny Angara, Bong Go, Cynthia Villar, and Raffy Tulfo.
The bill aims to provide a national policy to prevent adolescent pregnancies while institutionalizing social protection for adolescent parents and providing funds for it.
'Absolutely none of these concepts exist in our bill'
Hontiveros brushed off Marcos's allegations about the bill. According to her, there is no provision in the bill that teaches and urges children to masturbate.
"Walang anumang probisyon sa Bill tungkol sa pagtuturo o paghikayat ng masturbation sa mga batang edad 0 to 4 years old o yung magtuturo daw diumano ng 'bodily pleasure' sa mga batang 6-9 years old o na ituturo din daw sa bata na may 'sexual rights' sila," the lawmaker said in a Facebook.
She emphasized, "Absolutely none of these concepts exist in our Bill."
In a separate video, Hontiveros also cited the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), which provides "age and development-appropriate" educational standards, modules, and materials. The CSE can be found in Sections 6 to 9 of the bill.
"Mr. President, with all due respect, maliwanag na wala po sa Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill o SB1979 kahit ang salita na 'masturbation.' Wala din po yung 'try different sexualities,'" she maintained.
"[The] Comprehensive Sexuality Education [or] CSE contains the very same things you support: teaching kids anatomy, consequences of early pregnancy. 'Yan po ang atin ding sinusulong," Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros ended her statement by saying she is "willing to accept amendments to refine the bill" so they can "steer it to passage."
SB 1979 has undergone a second reading in the Senate plenary, allowing for interpellation and amendments.
