Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday refuted claims that the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in her proposed measure on adolescent pregnancy would be detrimental to the youth.
Hontiveros stressed that Senate Bill No. 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act has no intention of simply copying the provisions of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or World Health Organization regarding CSE.
“Kung may mga nakasaad diyan na hindi akma sa konteksto at kultura ng Pilipinas, siyempre hindi ‘yan gagamitin. Common sense ‘yan,” said Hontiveros in a media release.
It came after a coalition made an online petition to junk the proposal, claiming it could threaten the country’s “societal, moral, and spiritual values.”
“According to the UNESCO technical working guide it is based on, this curriculum includes: Teaching children as young as four years old about childhood masturbation, introducing six-year-olds to the concept of bodily pleasures through the five senses, and asserting that by age nine, children have their own sexual rights,” claimed the online petition, among other allegations.
Hontiveros, who chairs the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, dismissed them as mere “fabrications.”
“DepEd (Department of Education) pa rin, kasama ang ibang relevant agencies, at dapat may consultation with various stakeholders, ang mag-iimplement ng CSE. Hindi kung sinu-sinong international body,” said Hontiveros.
Hontiveros filed SB 1979 to provide CSE for individuals aged 10 to 19, which could help them prevent teenage pregnancy. Under Section 6, CSE must include age and development-appropriate topics in the modules.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the number of girls under 15 years old who gave birth increased by over 35% from 2,320 in 2021 to 3,135 in 2022.
A study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies in 2021 revealed that implementing CSE has faced multiple issues, including the lack of materials and inadequate training among instructors.
“Proteksyon at kalinga para sa mga bata ang pangunahing layunin (ng SB 1979),” said Hontiveros.
