The Senate has approved the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions on the measure that seeks to raise the age by which statutory rape is determined by law.

The bicameral report on Senate Bill No. 2332 and House Bill No. 7836, which seeks to amend Republic Act No, 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, would now be up for President Duterte’s approval.

The measure seeks to raise the age for determining statutory rape from the current 12 years old to 16 years old.

Lawmakers believe this would effectively provide more protection for young people against sexual exploitation and abuse.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, co-chair of the Senate panel in the bicameral committee, said lawmakers agreed to adopt the Senate’s “Romeo and Juliet” provision or the “sweetheart clause” in its version of the measure.

This effectively exempts consensual sexual activity between young couples who are “in love” from being criminalized.

Zubiri assured they included a provision to make sure that the sexual act is non-abusive and/or non-exploitative.

The bicameral report also introduced a provision in the bill mandating the Department of Education (DepEd) to include subjects tackling the rights and protection of children against sexual abuses in the basic education curriculum.

“I believe this provision will empower children against sexual advances and predators and help them avoid situations of statutory rape or other related crimes of sexual violence against children,” Zubiri said.

“Passing this bill into law could be our greatest Christmas gift to all Filipino children as they will grow and thrive in a safer environment with greater protection for them,” he said.