By the Child Rights Network
On Senator Hontiveros’ substitute bill:
We support the substitute bill filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros. Naniniwala kami na ang bersyon na ito ay katanggap-tanggap at isang paraan para mawala ang mga agam-agam tungkol sa Senate Bill (SB) 1979, or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill.
On the removal of “international standards”:
This works for us. We support it not because we believe that there’s anything wrong with being guided by international standards that can be truly applied to the Philippine cultural context, pero para hindi na ito gamitin to spread disinformation and ignite fears about comprehensive sexuality education and the bill.
On the importance of comprehensive sexuality education in SB 1979:
While it is true that comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is not new in Philippine legislation, ang maganda sa SB 1979 ay kasama rin sa tuturuan ang out-of-school youth through community-based programs, hindi lang ang mga bata at kabataang nasa formal schools.
May edukasyon at training rin para sa mga magulang at implementors ng sexuality education gaya ng mga guro, guidance counselors, at iba pang may tungkulin sa pag-implement ng CSE sa mga paaralan at komunidad upang matiyak na sila ay handa at may kakayahang i-guide ang adolescents.
Layunin ng SB 1979 na buksan ang konsultasyon at pag-uusap sa mas marami pang involved sa pagbibigay ng age-appropriate at culturally sensitive na sexuality education para sa mga bata, upang mabigyan sila ng proteksyon sa pang-aabuso, exploitation at maagang pagbubuntis.
On parental rights:
There is nothing in this bill that takes away parental rights.
We maintain that sexuality education is best taught at home and that parents should take primary responsibility for this. Gayunpaman, hindi natin maitatanggi ang reyalidad na madalas iwasan ng mga Pilipinong magulang ang mga usaping sekswal sa kanilang mga anak. Gayundin ang kanilang mga anak, they do not really seek that conversation with their parents.
How can children prevent something like teenage pregnancy if they do not know anything or rely on inaccurate information that they’ve just heard somewhere?
The Young Adult Fertility Survey said that the number one source of information for young people about sex is not their parents but the internet, followed by their peers.
Kaya nandiyan ang papel ng Estado para suportahan ang pagtuturo ng sexuality education through trained professionals para ang lahat ng mga bata at kabataan ay mabigyan ng accurate at life-saving information. Delikado kapag sa internet lamang kumukuha ng impormasyon ang mga bata without proper discernment.
Ang CSE ay mahalaga dahil binibigyan nito ng espasyo ang mga bata para huwag mahiya at magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na magsumbong sa mga guro o awtoridad kung ang kanilang mga pangunahing tagapag-alaga ay hindi available o mismong sila ang nagdudulot ng panganib sa kanilang kaligtasan.
Our call to action:
We call on our senators to support the substitute bill and deliberate and pass SB 1979.
We call on the President to review the substitute bill carefully and act based on evidence and our shared goal to support our children’s dreams and fight for a future where there are no more children having children.