MANILA – A House of Representatives leader said Monday it is up to the bicameral conference committee to iron out contentious provisions in the teenage pregnancy prevention bill.
Committee on the Welfare of Children chairperson and Barangay Health Wellness Party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co emphasized the importance of respecting the bicam’s role to resolve “matters needing reconciliation,” particularly the integration of comprehensive sexuality education in the school curriculum as espoused in the bill.
“It is better to let the bicameral committee deal with the House and Senate versions of the adolescent pregnancy bill,” Co said in a statement.
Co noted that House Bill (HB) 8910, which originated from the Committee on Youth, and its Senate counterpart differ significantly in content and construction.
In 2023, the House of Representatives approved HB 8910, which aims to prevent teenage pregnancies and institutionalize social protection for adolescent parents and their children.
The House bill provides for the development of community-based and culturally-sensitive, age- and developmentally-appropriate comprehensive adolescent sexuality education (CASE) through community-based information, education and communication programs for all adolescents.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., however, strongly criticized certain provisions of Senate Bill 1979, particularly its perceived “woke” approach to sex education.
Marcos described some elements as “ridiculous” and “abhorrent,” citing concerns over hypersexualized content such as teaching young children about masturbation.
Despite his objections, Marcos reiterated support for essential topics like anatomy, consequences of early pregnancy and risks of human immunodeficiency virus.
Co expressed support for the President’s stance on sex education to address the rise in teenage pregnancies.
“Equipping our adolescents with accurate, age-appropriate knowledge empowers them to make informed decisions, promoting their overall well-being and breaking the cycle of poverty that often comes with early parenthood,” Co said. (PNA)