7 senators withdraw support for bill vs teen pregnancy

SEVEN senators withdrew their signatures from Senate Bill (SB) 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill amid perceived "objectionable" provisions in the measure. Sens. Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Bong Revilla and Cynthia Villar separately wrote Senate President Francis Escudero to formalize the withdrawal of their signatures from SB 1979 under Committee Report 41. The bill seeks to provide for a national policy in preventing adolescent pregnancies and institutionalize social protection for adolescent parents. Some of the senators and other sectors questioned the mandatory Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) being proposed under the bill, which includes teaching sex education to children as young as 4 years old or those in kindergarten. "In light of the recent feedback and numerous concerns raised on SB 1979, we respectfully request the withdrawal of our signatures from the said committee report," Ejercito said in his letter. "While we believe that the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy is an issue that must be urgently addressed, it is our position that further dialogues with stakeholders is essential in order to accurately dispel misconceptions and remove objectionable portions from the bill," he added. In a separate letter to Escudero, Estrada said, "I wish to disassociate myself with Senate Bill 1979." "I arrived at this informed decision after I have carefully evaluated the sentiments and grave concerns of various private organizations that have expressed strong opposition to the proposed legislation," he added. Revilla said the bill needs "refinement." "While I remain committed to addressing critical issues, such as adolescent pregnancy and supporting comprehensive protection measures for adolescent parents, I believe that certain aspects of the proposed legislation require further refinement to better align with my advocacies and the interests of our constituents. Legarda said, "I request that this withdrawal of my signature be noted in the records of the Committee. The withdrawal of support prompted Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairman of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, who prepared the report, to file a substitute bill to address her colleagues' concerns. Hontiveros sought the podium during Wednesday's session to "inform this body that I have given much thought to the opposition raised against the bill." "I have sought to address the fundamental objections raised. We removed the guided by 'international standards' because of some concerns from some sectors," she said. "We limited the CSE to adolescents or 10 years old and above. We have also introduced a provision guaranteeing academic and religious freedom," Hontiveros said. "Having expressed this, with the consent of the body and after discussions with the Senate President, who I am very grateful to for allowing this space for discourse, I am filing an amendment by substitution that seeks to address the objections in the bill," she added. "Legislation, as they say, is the art of the possible. And while my personal convictions maintain that SB 1979 is a reasoned and appropriate response to this national crisis that is teenage pregnancy, I wish that we unite in the goal to lower teenage pregnancy in the Philippines and help the youth in need," she said in Filipino and English.