Sen. Risa Hontiveros today stressed the need to pursue the passage of a bill calling for the mandatory teaching of comprehensive sexuality education in schools to protect adolescents from teenage pregnancy.

Hontiveros, who had earlier filed Senate Bill No. 1334 or the proposed “Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2020,” said it is imperative to educate the youth on sexuality issues to shield them from wrong influences especially at this time of a COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ngayong kasing pandemya, binalik sa ating atensyon na may krisis at lalong vulnerable ang kabataan lalo na kung sila ay mapasubo sa (Now that there is a pandemic, it brought to our attention that our young people are faced with a crisis and are more vulnerable if they are exposed to) unplanned pregnancy,” Hontiveros said.

“Mas lalala ang sitwasyon ng mga kabataan kung hindi natin sila mapo protektahan sa ilalim ng lockdown, dahil hirap na nga ang ospital at ang naghihingalong healthcare system (The situation of our young people could turns if we are unable to protect them while they are under lockdown, precisely because our hospitals and our health care system is already overwhelmed),” she pointed out.

Hontiveros said that the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has warned that teenage pregnancy is already on the rise and considered it already a national social emergency.

The UP Population Institute, she said, also predicted a baby boom in 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kaya lalong naging mahalaga ang bill na ito…kahit sa ibang bansa nag wo work ang CSE (comprehensive sexuality education). Napag uusapan kasma ng mga magulang, estudyante, pati sa kanilang guro, guidance counselor and school supervisor (That’s why this bill is important… CSE also works even in other countries. It is taken up even with parents, students, their teacher, guidance counselor and school supervisor),” she said.

Hontiveros, who earlier sponsored the measure during the Senate plenary, said it is also important to utilize the Internet in promoting and teaching CSE.

“Dapat ma-utilize natin ang digital spaces para ma-educate ang kabataan. Kailangan ng tamang information campaign na may gabay ng mga magulang, guro at local government officials (We need to utilize digital spaces to educate our youth on CSE). They need to tap right information campaign coupled with the guidance of parents, teachers and local government officials),” She said.

"Dapat ma-enjoy ng kabataan ang kanilang pagiging bata, at pagkatapos, sa tamang panahon sila magtatag ng sariling pamilya (Young people should be able to enjoy their youth, and after that, they can start building up their own families).”