Senators withdraw support for anti-teen pregnancy bill

Metro Manila, Philippines - A number of senators have withdrawn support for a bill intended to prevent teen pregnancy amid the debate on comprehensive sexuality education in schools.

On Wednesday, Jan. 22, seven senators signified their intention to withdraw their signature from the committee report of Senate Bill 1979, authored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

In a joint letter, JV Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Bong Go, and Nancy Binay said “further dialogues with stakeholders is essential, in order to accurately dispel misconceptions and remove objectionable portions from the bill.”

“Even the president raised certain issues against the bill. Hindi pa nga napupunta sa presidente may pronouncement na siya na ive-veto. So why would we produce a committee report na alam na ive-veto ng presidente?” Binay said in a chance interview.

[Translation: Even before it reached the president, he had already announced that he would veto it. So why would we produce a committee report knowing that the president is going to veto it?]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said he was “appalled” upon reading the bill, calling some provisions “ridiculous” and “abhorrent.”

Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Loren Legarda, and reelectionist lawmaker Bong Revilla also submitted separate letters to Escudero with the same intent.

“When I read the bill, there are a lot of absurdities. Ang nakakabahala sa akin ung based on UNESCO standards… Hindi ko alam kung ano ang international standards at that time so upon review medyo hindi akma sa kultura natin,” Estrada said in an interview.

[Translation: What concerns me is that it's based on UNESCO standards... I don't know what the international standards were at that time; but upon review, it seems somewhat incompatible with our culture]

“Siyempre may apo ako, may anak ako we have to protect them so umasa kayo na kasama nyo kami sa laban na iyan,” said Revilla.

[Translation: Of course, I have grandchildren and children, and we have to protect them. So rest assured, you can count on us to stand with you in that fight.]

Substitute bill

In response, Hontiveros said she will file a substitute bill that will address concerns on the measure.

“While my personal convictions maintain that SB 1979 is a reasoned and appropriate response to this national crisis that is teenage pregnancy, mas nais ko na magkaisa tayo sa layunin na pababain ang teenage pregnancy sa Pilipinas, at bigyang suporta ang mga kabataang nangangailangan,” she said.

[Translation: …I would prefer that we unite in the goal of reducing teenage pregnancy in the Philippines and providing support to the young people who need it.]

Hontiveros said she was saddened by the disinformation on her bill, especially on claims that it will teach early childhood masturbation to children aged 0-4 years old. This stemmed from the video of advocacy group “Project Dalisay,” which said that the bill will “hypersexualize children.”

The lawmaker earlier said the bill did not mention masturbation.

Hontiveros said under her substitute bill, the phrase on CSE being “guided by international standards” was also removed, a provision that has been a subject of opposition.

Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno of Project Dalisay previously lamented that while sensitive topics are not directly stated in the measure, the bill is anchored on foreign concepts, which may be inappropriate to children.

“Nilimitahan na natin ang CSE sa adolescents o ang 10 years old and above. We have also introduced a provision guaranteeing academic and religious freedom,” she said.

[Translation: We have limited CSE to adolescents, or those 10 years old and above. We have also introduced a provision guaranteeing academic and religious freedom]

Suspending CSE

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said his agency is continuously reviewing the CSE rolled out in schools.

The program took effect under the Duterte administration in 2018.

“Maaaring i-suspend namin to review pero suspending permanently, parang tingin ko as a lawyer hindi pwede gawin dahil kasi batas iyon e,” he said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, noting that the CSE in schools is required by the reproductive health law.

Angara said schools are not teaching early childhood masturbation.

Hontiveros also said she will not support a “complete removal of CSE from our policy landscape.”

“Napatunayan na ng maraming pag-aaral at karanasan ng lokal na komunidad, na ang epekto ng CSE ay pagbaba, hindi pagtaas ng numero ng kabataang maagang nabubuntis,” she said.

[Translation: Many studies and experiences from local communities have proven that the effect of CSE is a decrease, not an increase, in the number of young people who get pregnant at an early age.]