Over the past few days, there has been a lot of fuss regarding Senate Bill (SB) No. 1979, otherwise known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023. Much of if was the strong opposition of some sectors regarding the implementation of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). But what is the bill exactly about?
Nothing has been said much about the bill since it was filed in March 2023, until recently, the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution’s Project Dalisay created an online petition to oppose the bill.
SB 1979
The bill's declaration of policy outlines the State's commitment to protecting adolescents' rights and addressing the increasing incidence of pregnancies among them in the Philippines.
As far as the bill is concerned, each provision is fixated on steps that should be taken in the goal of reducing adolescent pregnancies, the various challenges faced by adolescent parents, and upholding their rights and welfare.
The provisions consist of comprehensive education programs; access to health services; social protection for adolescent parents; community and family engagement; research and data collection; accountability and implementation; as well as funding and monitoring.
In a nutshell, the bill aims to address the alarming rates of adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines and enumerates the various interventions in place for such incidents.
Opposition against the bill
Overall contention with the bill lies within Section 6, wherein it is stated that "the CSE shall be standardized and implemented in all public and private basic education institutions. CSE delivery shall not be dependent upon the discretion of the school administration or on its teachers. It shall be integrated in the school curriculum, guided by DEPED and international standards."
Sectors who have opposed the bill, mainly the NCFC, pointed out that the so-called "international standards" only refer to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Health Organization (WHO) guides which according to former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, discuss masturbation as normal and not harmful while in the latter it is considered as an explored topic at a very early age.
In its petition addressed to the Department of Education (DepEd), Project Dalisay said that that the bill 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 petition 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.
Opposition from senators
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday, January 16 said he is wary over the provisions of the bill, saying he has actually proposed several amendments to the proposed law and is not supporting the bill in its current form.
Sen. Joel Villanueva also said he is against the bill, noting that the title of the bill itself is misleading, and said it has similarities to the proposed sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE) bill.
According to Villanueva, some senators are reportedly planning to withdraw co-authorship on the measure.
As a conservative lawmaker, Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said that he doesn't believe in liberal policies, particularly on sex education.
False information
Senator Risa Hontiveros, the bill's author, dismissed criticisms against the bill as "false information".
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 said 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.
UNESCO, WHO will not be copied
In a more recent statement, Hontiveros said that the guidelines will only serve as a reference to help the well-being of the youth, adding that there is no intention or legal obligation to blindly adopt any international standard.
"Hindi ibig sabihin ay kokopyahin lang lahat naang naka-publish sa UNESCO o WHO. Siyempre kung may mga nakasaad diyan na hindi akma sa konteksto at kultura ng Pilipinas, siyempre hindi yan gagamitin. Common sense po iyan (This does not mean that everything published by UNESCO or WHO will be copied. Of course, if there are provisions that do not fit the context and culture of the Philippines, those will not be used. That’s just common sense)," she said.
"DepEd parin, kasama ang ibang relevant agencies, at dapat may consultation with various stakeholders, ang mag-iimplement ng CSE. Hindi kung sino-sinong international body. Wala pong magdidikta sa ating gubyerno kundi tayong mga Pilipino (along with other relevant agencies, should implement the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), and there should be consultations with various stakeholders—not just any international body. No one will dictate to our government except us Filipinos)," she added.
"Panghuli, the highest international standard is the UN declaration of human rights and the convention on the rights of the child. Proteksyon at kalinga para sa mga bata ang pangunahing layunin (the highest international standards are the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The primary objective is the protection and care of children)," she stated.