An alliance of organizations and agencies advocating for children’s rights on Saturday, Jan. 18, denounced the “fake news and fearmongering” surrounding Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill.
The Child Rights Network (CRN), in a statement, emphasized that it does not “simply support” bills without rigorous research and consultations with various stakeholders—including faith-based groups, some of which are its member organizations.
“That is why the comprehensive sexuality education component was carefully worded to ensure that it is age- and development-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally sensitive,” said CRN, referring to the opposition of the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC) through its “Project Dalisay.”
In its petition letter addressed to the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary and the Senate, the group—which seeks to “safeguard the sanctity of the Filipino family and the innocence of our children by advocating for sex education that aligns with our cultural, religious, and constitutional foundations”—expressed opposition to DepEd’s implementation of CSE and the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023 (Senate Bill 1979).
Age-appropriate, culturally sensitive
CRN condemned the group behind “Project Dalisay” for stoking opposition against CSE and the bill.
“They presented these interpretations as if they were truly the content of the bill,” CRN said. “These are clear misrepresentations, fake news, and fearmongering,” it added.
The group clarified that “no one was excluded” from the legislative process for SB 1979.
“If the group behind Project Dalisay truly wanted to help, they would have easily reached out to us or the good sponsor of this bill instead of waging a clear smear campaign against an important and urgent piece of legislation,” CRN added.
Regarding the bill, CRN emphasized that the CSE in Senate Bill No. 1979 is “age-appropriate and culturally sensitive.”
“It involves both parents and educators,” CRN said, noting that the CSE “will not teach inappropriate lessons to children.” “Rather, it will protect children from sexual abuse and early pregnancies, which usually start with teaching young children about good touch, bad touch, and healthy boundaries,” CRN explained.
CRN pointed out that “Project Dalisay” has “unfortunately cherry-picked and misrepresented parts of the bill to ignite populist fears of hypersexualization and the infiltration of international entities.”
In the bill, CRN said it is clearly stated that the CSE would be “guided” by DepEd and international standards.
“Guided does not mean we will adopt,” CRN said. “And as with all legislation, the implementing rules and regulations will be subjected to comprehensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders,” it added.
CRN also questioned, “If the said international standards do not align with the context or culture of the Philippines, why should we use them in our CSE?”
The alliance also reminded that the Philippines is a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“We have an obligation to protect children and ensure their right to correct and accurate information that will help protect them against abuse, exploitation, and early pregnancy,” CRN added.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/15/dep-ed-comprehensive-sexuality-education
Data is clear
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), CRN noted that one in 20 Filipino babies are born to teen mothers aged 15 to 19. The same data also revealed that registered births to very young mothers aged 10 to 14 have been “increasing.”
In 2023, there were 3,343 children born to girls aged 10 to 14, according to PSA data.
Still citing PSA, CRN pointed out that “most births delivered by teen mothers are fathered by men significantly older than them,” highlighting “disturbing power imbalances that often lead to abuse.”
PSA data also showed that a significant number of maternal deaths among teens occur every year—162 girls aged 10 to 19 died from pregnancy or childbirth in 2022 alone. Teen pregnancy accounts for almost 60 percent of school dropouts among young girls, “severely limiting their potential and costing the country billions in lost opportunities.”
Moreover, CRN cited a study from the University of the Philippines Population Institute, which stated that 44 percent of young Filipino females and 39 percent of young Filipino males “lack material resources about sex,” often relying on inaccurate sources like social media.
With these data, CRN reiterated the need for the passage of the bill. “Let’s not wait until it’s too late to protect more Filipino children from abuse and early pregnancies,” it added.
CRN’s convenor is the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development. It is the advocacy force behind the passage of recent landmark laws, such as the Raising the Age to Determine Statutory Rape Act, the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Act, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
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