TWO party-list groups at the House of Representatives have denounced the mandatory pregnancy testing imposed by the Pines City College (PCC) in Baguio City to its female enrollees.

For Kabataan Party-list, the mandatory pregnancy testing discriminates and downgrades women’s rights. The group said pregnancy does not determine one's capacity as a student.

The group also said that the P150 pregnancy test fee, which is shouldered by the students, is “another form of exorbitant other school fees” and is “more expensive than a pharmacy-bought pregnancy test.”

The PCC drew flak from netizens after a letter informing students about the mandatory pregnancy testing for dentistry, nursing and pharmacy students went viral on social media. The letter bore the signature of PCC vice president for administration Maria Regina Prats and school physician Dr. Aurelia Navarro.

The PCC, in a post on its Facebook page, said the policy is agreed to by its students upon enrollment.

"Pines City Colleges abides by its policy of pregnancy tests for female students who are enrolling in any subject that would endanger both mother and child," it said.

"We believe that it is a policy protective of our students while they are in our care and are deployed to internship programs in hospitals and to clinical practices," said PCC.

Gabriela Party-list, for its part, said the policy violates the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710).

The group said the mandatory pregnancy test perpetuates "an old view and stigma that pregnancy is socially unacceptable and against the norm."

"This policy glosses over the reality that women, especially female students, are vulnerable victims in a patriarchal society, and that unplanned pregnancy is never their fault," it said.

Gabriela said it will write a formal letter to the PCC administration to register its opposition.

Kabataan, meanwhile, has directed its Baguio-Benguet chapter to clarify the matter with the PCC. (SunStar Philippines)