Hontiveros to file substitute measure for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday she would file a substitute measure for Senate Bill (SB) 1979 or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill amid her colleagues' withdrawal of support for the proposed law.

"Nirerespeto ko ang kanilang desisyon. Naiintindihan ko ang kanilang mga konsiderasyon sa pagbawi ng suporta sa panukalang tutugon sa pagtaas ng teenage pregnancy sa bansa," Hontiveros said in a statement.

(I respect the decision of my colleagues. I understand their considerations in withdrawing their support for the bill that seeks to address the increasing cases of teen pregnancy in the country.)

"May ihahain akong substitute bill bilang tugon sa tunay at sinserong concerns ng iba't ibang sektor at grupo. Umaasa ako na pag-aaralan nila," she added.

(I will file a substitute bill that will answer the genuine and sincere concerns of various sectors and groups. I trust that they will study this.)

At least seven senators have written to Senate President Francis Escudero informing the latter of their withdrawal of signatures on SB 1979.

Committee Report 41, which contained SB 1979, had garnered 18 signatures when it was reported as out by the joint committees on women, children, family relations, and gender equality; social justice, welfare and rural development; health and demography; and finance last March 2023.

Some groups recently raised concerns on SB 1979, particularly on the section on Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE).

Under the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, the Comprehensive Sexuality Program will 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."

Section 6 of the bill provides that CSE "shall be integrated in the school curriculum, guided by [the Department of Education] and international standards."

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who is part of the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC), the group that is questioning SB 1979, insisted that the bill provided that the CSE will be in line with "international standards," which she deemed to be the curriculum set by the UNESCO and the World Health Organization.

Sereno said this curriculum by international organizations has provisions about teaching or encouraging masturbation for children aged zero to four years old, and teaching "bodily pleasure" or "sexual rights" to children ages six to nine.

NCFC is the group behind "Project Dalisay," which seeks to safeguard the sanctity of the Filipino family and the innocence of children.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, sponsor of SB 1979, refuted this, saying there are no such provisions under the measure. Hontiveros said that SB 1979 has no intention to pattern the CSE with any international standards.

"Hindi ibig sabihin ay kokopyahin lang lahat naang naka-publish sa UNESCO o WHO. Siyempre kung may mga nakasaad diyan na hindi akma sa konteksto at kultura ng Pilipinas, siyempre hindi yan gagamitin. Common sense po iyan," Hontiveros said.  

(This doesn't mean that we will copy everything that is published by UNESCO or WHO. Of course, if there is content there that is not appropriate to the Philippine context and culture, then we will not use it.)

"DepEd pa rin, kasama ang ibang relevant agencies, at dapat may consultation with various stakeholders, ang mag-i-implement ng CSE. Hindi kung sino-sinong international body. Wala pong magdidikta sa ating gobyerno kundi tayong mga Pilipino," she added.

Escudero, Senators Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri have earlier expressed reservations on SB 1979. — VDV, GMA Integrated News