EXPLAINER: What we know about the contested bill aiming to prevent adolescent pregnancy
A bill being lobbied in the Senate that aims to prevent pregnancy among adolescent youth has lawmakers divided.
Senate Bill No. 1979, otherwise known as the "Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023," is currently being debated over a few of its provisions seeking to give proper sexual education to people aged 10 to 19 years old in an effort to curb "early and unintended pregnancies and their life-long consequences."
Should the bill be passed, the Department of Education (DepEd) will be tasked to develop and promote "educational standards, modules, and materials to promote comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools, communities, and other youth institutions."
"The CSE shall be a compulsory part of education, integrated at all levels with the end goal of normalizing discussions about adolescent sexuality and reproductive health and to remove stigma at all levels," the bill stated.
An "Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Council" will be formed to ensure that the CSE is "medically accurate, culturally sensitive, rights-based, and inclusive and non-discriminatory towards LGBTQIA+ adolescents."
Some of the topics that will be discussed include human sexuality, informed consent, adolescent reproductive health, effective contraceptive use, disease prevention, HIV/AIDS, and common sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
It will also explore hygiene, health and nutrition, healthy lifestyles and health seeking-behaviors and practices, gender sensitivity, gender equality and equity, teen dating, gender-based violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, peer pressure, women's and children's rights, digital citizenship, and issues like pornography, among others.
"The purpose of which is to equip them with the knowledge, skills, and values to make informed and responsible choices about their sexual and social relationships," the bill explained.
The CSE will be integrated into the school curriculum, guided by DEPED and international standards, and implemented in all public and private basic education institutions.
The council will also ensure that teachers, guidance counselors, and other school officials tasked with educating adolescents on CSE will be "properly trained" on adolescent health and development, women's and children's rights, and gender equality and sensitivity to effectively guide students in dealing with their sexuality-related concerns.
The training activities will include the legal and human rights instruments applicable to the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, especially in cases of "unintended pregnancies as a result of sexual violence."
Why the bill is contentious
The implementation of the CSE did not sit right with members of the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC), who have now started an online petition titled "Project Dalisay" to oppose the program.
The group, led by ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, explained that they are against the bill's initiatives as these "conflict with the core values and beliefs upheld by many Filipino families, particularly those of the Christian and Islamic faith."
According to the group, the program includes topics that "challenge traditional family values, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and rights related to sexual activity and reproductive health."
"The program introduces concepts like 'gender fluidity' and 'sexual diversity,' suggesting that people can choose their sexual identity beyond the binary of male and female. It also emphasizes sexual rights, which could be interpreted as encouraging early sexual activity, and includes discussions on contraception, abortion, and non-traditional relationships," NCFC stated.
They also objected to CSE being enforced across schools nationwide "without adequate consultation or consent from parents and guardians."
The group believes that the program can pose harmful effects such as undermining parental authority, desensitizing children to sexual themes, promoting sexual behaviors, promoting homosexuality or bisexuality, and more.
They are urging DepEd and the Senate to withdraw the implementation of the CSE program, reject SB 1979, and ensure that any sex education curriculum is "aligned with the values of Filipino families."
Several senators also shared the same sentiments as the group.
During the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Sen. Joel Villanueva similarly expressed his concern the bill would remove parental consent in sexual education by integrating it into the school curriculum.
"If I’m the last one standing here in the Senate, so be it. I will oppose this measure. I also have children. Hindi po pwede na kukunin mo 'yung karapatan ko bilang magulang," he said.
"I do not believe in 'my body, my right.' Because I believe that I am a creation of God," he added.
Senate President Francis Escudero also has qualms with some provisions of the bill. He said he has relayed to the author several proposed amendments.
“It’s still undergoing the 'rigors of legislation' and is currently in the period of interpellation. I will await the final version that will be put to a vote—where, hopefully, most of my proposed amendments will be carried," he added.
In defense of the bill
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who authored the bill, has addressed criticisms hurled against the provisions and denied claims that her bill would teach sex education to as young as kindergarten and encourage masturbation to children aged 0 to 4 or teach bodily pleasure to children aged 6 to 9.
"Absolutely none of those concepts exist in our bill. Those lines in their supposed rebuttal are complete and total fabrication," she said in a press conference.
"We all want what’s best for our children, but outright lies, misinformation, disinformation, and promoting fear can lead to more harmful decisions about our teen’s lives. Nililito lang nila tayo," she added. "I can confidently say that these outrageous claims from Project Dalisay were pulled out of thin air."
Hontiveros also denied that the CSE is based on Western and liberal standards of sexuality.
"There is no intention to adopt the thinking of any international standard. The bill will not copy the guidelines of UNESCO and WHO. It is common sense that provisions there not aligned with our context and culture would not apply here," she explained.
"It is only the DepEd, in consultation with various stakeholders, which will implement the CSE, not any international body. Our government can only be run by us Filipinos," she continued.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who is the chairperson of the Senate Basic Education Committee, now plans to hold an inquiry with the NCFC to "hear all sides and their concerns."
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, one of the co-authors of the bill, also acknowledged concerns raised by the public and assured that the agency's doors are open to hear opinions and suggestions regarding the proposed measure.
"Sinisiguro natin na balanse ang ating pananaw at pagpapatupad. We are actively collaborating with various stakeholders, including health service providers and community organizations, to ensure that our programs are effective and culturally sensitive. Our efforts include exploring models from our communities and other countries," he said in a statement. (with reports from Marc Jayson Cayabyab)
