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Pregnancy bill loses support

7 senators abandon SB 1979; substitute bill in the works

Seven senators have withdrawn their support for Senate Bill No. 1979, also known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, two days after President Marcos vowed to veto the measure if it is submitted for his signature in its current form.

The seven include Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Nancy Binay, Christopher “Bong” Go, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Cynthia Villar and Loren Legarda.

This prompted Senator Risa Hontiveros to say that she would introduce a substitute bill for SB 1979 in response to various concerns raised by different sectors regarding its provisions.

“I understand their considerations in withdrawing support for the proposal that addresses the rise of teenage pregnancy in the country,” she said.

“I have given much thought to the opposition raised against the bill. And while my personal convictions maintain that SB 1979 is a reasoned and appropriate response to this national crisis that is teenage pregnancy, I would prefer that we unite in our goal to reduce teenage pregnancy in the Philippines and provide support for the youth in need,” she added.

Hontiveros also expressed dismay over the rampant disinformation surrounding the bill and firmly refuted claims that it contains provisions about sexual positions or other provocative content.

“I cannot, in good conscience, support the complete removal of Comprehensive Sexuality Education from our policy landscape, not just for the Filipino youth, but also for us— their parents, guardians, and teachers—who may find it hard to discuss these topics with our children and students,” she stated.

However, former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said comprehensive sex education (CSE) was “not compatible” with the Philippine context, branding the program as “cultural imperialism” pushed by the United Nations (UN).

Sereno was featured in a series of YouTube videos criticizing CSE published on Jan. 10 and 15 by Project Dalisay (Pure), an initiative by the religious group National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC).

“Let’s face it: it’s not compatible. Let’s find other better approaches out there. Let’s look for our own identity as a people,” Sereno said in a mix of Filipino and English at a press conference on Tuesday with the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC).

Meanwhile, Revilla disassociated himself from the bill, citing a conflict with his views after reviewing public sentiment.

“While I remain committed to addressing critical issues, such as adolescent pregnancy and supporting comprehensive protection measures for adolescent parents, I believe that certain aspects of the proposed legislation require further refinement to better align with my advocacies and the interests of our constituents,” he said.

Villar also recognized various sectors’ concerns over the legislation even as she admitted that teenage pregnancy must be addressed.

“It is never our intention to offend the sensibilities of parents and religious groups, especially on matters of morality and the well-being of our children,” she said.

“This decision does not signify a rejection of the bill’s objectives but is a gesture of respect for the concerns raised and a commitment to support a version that better reflects the values of our people and gains broader acceptance,” Villar added.

The senator highlighted alarming statistics from 2022, where over 56,000 girls aged 10 to 17 gave birth, with a notable 35% increase among those aged 10 to 14, prompting the National Economic and Development Authority to label adolescent pregnancy a national emergency.

In contrast, Go clarified his position by stating he neither authored nor intended to coauthor the bill.

“The Committee Report of the said bill was filed by the Senate Committee on Women and Children…my name was included because I chair the Senate Committee on Health, which was assigned as a secondary committee due to health-related aspects of the measure,” he clarified.

Estrada also disassociated himself from the bill, citing “grave concerns of various private organizations that have expressed strong opposition on the proposed legislation.”

For her part, Senator Imee Marcos, who authored a bill that was eventually considered under SB 1979, said it was “premature” to withdraw her signature.

“Withdrawal at this point is a little too early since it has not yet been passed,” Marcos said in a mixture of English and Filipino. — Ram Superable

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