'True intent' of Baguio college's mandatory preg test policy questioned

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on Wednesday expressed alarm over a Baguio-based college's mandatory pregnancy test policy, saying such practice could be in violation of the Magna Carta of Women.

"We are alarmed of the school memorandum which has gone viral. We question the true intent of the school requirement in the context of the Magna Carta of Women which prohibits the expulsion or non-readmission of female students due to pregnancy,” PCW chairperson Rhodora Bucoy said in a statement.

Bucoy said the PCW supports the move of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the practice of Pines City Colleges.

"We will coordinate with CHR, the designated Gender Ombudsman, under the Magna Carta of Women, regarding the outcomes of their investigation and make necessary steps to address the situation," she said.

The memo on the mandatory pregnancy test, which circulated online on Tuesday, stated that the students from the school's Colleges of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing should prepare for pregnancy tests scheduled at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from November 7 to 9.

Gabriela party-list has earlier said that such policy creates undue pressure and lays unreasonable blame to pregnant female students as they will be sanctioned with dropping of the subjects and one-year delay.

"This policy glosses over the reality that women, especially female students, are vulnerable victims in a patriarchal society, and that unplanned pregnancy is never their fault," Gabriela said in a statement.

Despite drawing flak, Pines City Colleges said it is standinb by its policy of implementing mandatory pregnancy test.

“Pines City Colleges abides by its policy of pregnancy tests for female students who are enrolling in any subject that would endanger both mother and child. We believe it is a policy protective of our students while they are in our care and are deployed to internship programs in hospitals and to clinical practice,” the school said in a statement.

“It is a policy agreed to by our students upon their enrollment in this institution,” it added. —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News