Seven senators reverse stance on controversial anti-teen pregnancy bill
Seven senators have reversed their position on the bill seeking to prevent adolescent pregnancy.
Senators Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Christopher "Bong" Go, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, and Loren Legarda have requested to withdraw their signatures in the committee report of Senate Bill No. 1979, otherwise known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act.
In their letter to Senate President Francis Escudero, Ejercito, Binay, Villar, and Go said they made the decision "in light of the recent feedback and numerous concerns" raised on the bill.
"While we believe that the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is an issue that must be urgently addressed, it is our position that further dialogues with stakeholders is essential, in order to accurately dispel misconceptions and remove objectionable portions from the bill," they explained.
Revilla, Estrada, and Legarda followed suit in withdrawing their signatures, according to 24 Oras.
Go and Revilla are among the co-authors of the bill along with fellow lawmakers Imee Marcos and Sonny Angara. Sen. Risa Hontiveros is the principal author and its sponsor.
However, both Revilla and Marcos asserted that the current version of the measure is different from what they originally drafted.
In a statement, Marcos said that her version "tackled the overwhelming problem of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines," which has been cited by the World Bank as "not only a moral problem but an economic loss for these girls' education and future job prospects."
"While the present bill is significantly different from mine, in no way does it intend to deprive parents of their primordial authority and guidance. Instead, the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and the entire community is precisely enjoined to assist parents with 'medically accurate, culturally sensitive, non-discriminatory' information," she said.
"Given the plethora of false sex data in the media, the growing incidence of HIV and STDs, in addition to rising teenage pregnancy, I think truthful and age—as well as culturally—appropriate sex education in schools, together with parental guidance, is ever more important today," she added.
Revilla, on the other hand, said that SB 1979 "contains provisions that were not in my bill."
"The purpose of the version I filed is to provide an institutional framework to ensure that children are not exposed to bastardized concepts of sex; perversity and vulgarity—all that lead to adolescent pregnancy; and for the State to provide support to adolescent parents so that their children grow up healthy and sound," he explained.
"I will do everything in my power to protect our kids and all our children from obscenity and lewdness. We have to preserve the sanctity of procreation. Walang lugar dyan para sa kababuyan," he added. "Kung totoong itutulak ‘yung mga pinangambahan ng ilan sa ating mga kababayan, ako mismo, I will vote against it at haharangin ko na maipasa."
Why is the bill contested?
Should the anti-teen pregnancy bill be passed, 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."
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 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 National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC) found issues with the CSE and started an online petition titled "Project Dalisay" to oppose the program.
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."
They also believe 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.
Following this, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. himself spoke against the bill, saying that he is "shocked" and "appalled" by some of its elements such as how it will allegedly teach four-year-olds how to masturbate and "try different sexualities."
He stressed that he will "immediately veto" the measure if it is passed in that form. As a response, Hontiveros said that the words "masturbation" and "try other sexualities" were not mentioned on the bill.
"CSE contains the very same things you support: teaching kids anatomy, consequences of early pregnancy, ‘yan po ang atin ding sinusulong," she stressed.
Nevertheless, she is assured that she is open to amendments to further refine the bill. (with reports from Marc Jayson Cayabyab)
