Senator Risa Hontiveros refuted certain online criticisms against Senate Bill (SB) No. 1979, otherwise known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, even as she dismissed them as "false information".

In a press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 15, Hontiveros, the bill's author, she said that she was outraged by the lies about the bill that had been spreading on social media. 

This came after the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution’s Project Dalisay created an online petition expressing strong opposition to the implementation of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program and the provisions of the bill.

This was addressed to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Senate.

"We all want what’s best for our children, but outright lies, misinformation, disinformation, and promoting fear can lead to more harmful decisions about our teen’s lives. Nililito lang nila tayo (They're just confusing us)," Hontiveros said.

She first clarified that there were no provisions regarding the teaching or encouragement of masturbation to children aged zero to four years old, or any instruction that supposedly teaches "bodily pleasure" to children aged six to nine years old, or that children will be taught their "sexual rights".

"Absolutely none of those concepts exist in our bill. Those lines in their supposed rebuttal are complete and total fabrication," she said.

Hontiveros also pointed out that the so-called “Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe” were never used in the Philippines and that this wasn't the reference for CSE. Rather, it is the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, which had long been enacted and upheld before the Constitution. 

She added that the bill also does not state that the Philippines must adhere to the policies of other countries. This means the claims that the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill is unconstitutional are completely unfounded.

The senator also said that she does not know where the idea that "if a child was sexually active, parents should no longer be informed" came from. She says that there is no law or policy in the Philippines that would even attempt to prevent parents from guiding their children.

"In short, I can confidently say: these outrageous claims from Project Dalisay were pulled out of thin air," she said.

"Bilang ina ng apat na anak, na tatlo sa kanila ay babae, at bilang isang panghabambuhay na mananampalataya, hindi ko po hahayaang mabalot sa kasinungalingan ang mga bata.  Manindigan tayo sa tama. Hinihikayat ko rin ang ating mga allies at stakeholders na iparinig ang kanilang boses para maampat ang pagkalat nitong mga fake news na ito (As a mother of four children, three of whom are girls, and as a life-long believer, I will not allow my children to be wrapped in lies. Let us stand firm for what is right. I also encourage our allies and stakeholders to raise their voices to help put a stop to the spread of these fake news)," she added.

Project Dalisay

In its petition, Project Dalisay said that the implementation of the CSE program and the provisions of SB No. 1979, the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act, contained initiatives that were in conflict with the core values and beliefs upheld by many Filipino families, particularly those of the Christian and Islamic faith.

"The CSE program, as outlined by the Department of Education (DepEd), promotes a comprehensive approach to sexual health education, which includes topics that challenge traditional family values, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and rights related to sexual activity and reproductive health," the petiton read.

"The program introduces concepts like 'gender fluidity' and 'sexual diversity', suggesting that people can choose their sexual identity beyond the binary of male and female. It also emphasizes sexual rights, which could be interpreted as encouraging early sexual activity, and includes discussions on contraception, abortion, and non-traditional relationships. These concepts contradict traditional Christian and Islamic morality regarding marriage, procreation, and family life," it added.

It also stated that the Hontiveros bill mandated the integration of CSE into the national curriculum, which would be enforced across schools nationwide, without adequate consultation or consent from parents and guardians.

It also mentioned that the bill also promoted the availability of contraception and reproductive health services to adolescents, a move that the petitioners believe could encourage early sexual activity and undermine the values of abstinence and marital fidelity--both vital tenets of Christian and Islamic teachings.