SENATE Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros reiterated on Monday, January 27, 2025, that the controversial Senate Bill 1979, also known as the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, will further strengthen the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law.
In a statement, Hontiveros reiterated the need to boost the RPRH Law, considering that teen pregnancy remains a national emergency.
Senate Bill 1979 mandates the government to direct its attention and resources to address teen pregnancy.
It aims to “recognize, promote, and strengthen the role of adolescents and young people in the overall human and socio-economic development of the country not only in the future but also in the present.”
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, 2,113 babies were born to mothers under 15 in 2020. It went on an uptrend to 2,320 in 2021 and to 3,135 in 2022.
“Whether we like it or not, ayon sa datos ay may mga kabataang sexually active at kasalukuyan ng hinaharap ang mga kinahihinatnan nito. Kailangan nila ng angkop na impormasyon at serbisyo, dagdag sa nakatakda sa RPRH. Hindi dapat ipinagkakait sa kanila ang magpoprotekta sa kalusugan nila,” said Hontiveros.
(Whether we like it or not, according to data, there are young people who are sexually active and are currently facing the consequences of it. They need appropriate information and services, in addition to what is provided under the RPRH. Access to services that protect their health should not be denied.)
“This is also why the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Law we passed specifies that adolescents can access HIV testing and treatment even without the consent of parents. The Raising the Age of Sexual Consent Law also recognizes that adolescents have agency to give consent at 16 so we must also recognize their abilities to make decisions on their health,” she added.
Hontiveros made the statement in response to the remark of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa that there is no need for a new law to tackle the issue of teen pregnancy, noting that RPRH simply needs to be properly implemented.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voiced strong opposition to certain provisions in Senate Bill 1979, describing them as inappropriate for younger children and labeling them as “woke absurdities.”
He assured the public that he would veto the bill if it were passed in its current form, pledging to protect the interests of parents, teachers, and children.
Seven senators withdrew their signatures from the committee report on Senate Bill 1979 amid concerns about Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE).
In response, Hontiveros filed a substitute bill that would address the opposition of the measure's critics, particularly about the CSE, which shall be integrated into the school curriculum, guided by the Department of Education and international standards.
Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who was among the critics of the measure, noted that the CSE curriculum by international organizations has provisions about teaching or encouraging masturbation for children ages zero to four and teaching "bodily pleasure" or "sexual rights" to children ages six to nine. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)