7 senators withdraw signatures from Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill

Seven senators have withdrawn their signatures from the committee report on Senate Bill 1979 or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill amid concerns raised by some groups on its provision on Comprehensive Sexual Education.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday, Senators JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, and Bong Go said that they were taking back their support for the bill, citing the need for further discussions with stakeholders.

"In light of the recent feedback and numerous concerns raised on Senate Bill No. 1979...we respectfully request the withdrawal of our signatures from the said committee report," the letter read.

"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 are essential in order to accurately dispel misconceptions and remove objectionable portions from the bill," the senators wrote.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, in a separate letter to Escudero, said he withdrew his support after evaluating the ''sentiments and grave concerns of various private organizations that have expressed strong opposition on the proposed legislation.''

Senator Ramon ''Bong'' Revilla Jr. also told Escudero about his decision to withdraw, saying in a letter that he found himself ''in conflict with the possible outcomes'' should the bill become a law.

Revilla said that ''certain aspects of the proposed legislation require further refinement to better align with my advocacies and the interests of our constituents.''

On Tuesday, Revilla said that SB 1979 contains provisions that were not in SB 1209, which he authored.

"The version I filed aimed to create an institutional framework to protect children from bastardized concepts of sex, perversity, and vulgarity that contribute to adolescent pregnancy while also ensuring state support for adolescent parents so their children grow up healthy," Revilla said.

Senator Loren Legarda also withdrew her signature from the committee report on SB 1979.

In an ambush interview, Senator Imee Marcos, who authored a bill that was eventually considered under SB 1979, said it was "premature" to withdraw her signature.

"Withdrawal at this point is a little too early dahil hindi pa naman siya napapasa (since it has not yet been passed)," Marcos said.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit may alarmist mode. Bakit 'yung ibang nagte-text? Huwag kayo matakot, hindi pa ito tapos. Mahaba pa ang proseso; may interpellation, may amendment pa.''

(I have no idea why there is an alarmist mode. Why are they sending text messages? It's still a long process, so don't be scared. Interpellations and amendments will be made.)

Marcos insisted on the need for a law that will address teenage pregnancy, explaining that it is not just a social and a moral problem but is also an "economic development problem."

Escudero stated during Wednesday's plenary session that he had not yet read his colleagues' letters about SB 1979.

Substitute bill

In light of the developments, Senator Risa Hontiveros, sponsor of SB 1979, said that she plans to file a substitute bill that addresses the concerns on the measure.

"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.)

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 in March 2023.

Comprehensive Sexual Education

Some groups recently raised concerns about 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 group that questions 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 UNESCO and the World Health Organization.

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

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. echoed this concern on Monday.

''You will teach four-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,'' the President said, warning that he would veto the measure if it is passed in its present form.

Filipino culture, context

Hontiveros refuted this, saying there are no such provisions in the measure.

She said that SB 1979 has no intention to pattern the CSE with any international standards.

"Hindi ibig sabihin ay kokopyahin lang lahat nang 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.

(It doesn't mean that we have to copy all aspects of what was published by UNESCO or WHO. Of course, we will not include provisions that are not in line with the context and culture of the Philippines. That's common sense.)

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

(The CSE will be implemented by the DepEd, along with the relevant agencies and after consulting with various stakeholders, not any international body. Nobody else, except us Filipinos, dictates the government.)

Escudero and Senators Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri have also expressed reservations about SB 1979. — VBL/ VDV, GMA Integrated News