SENATE deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros shrugged off the possible impact of the withdrawal of support of seven senators Senate Bill No. 1979, or the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act.
On Wednesday, seven of 18 senators who signed the committee report withdrew their signatures.
Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Christopher Go said “more discussions are needed amid various concerns stakeholders have raised on the proposed measure’s provision on Comprehensive Sexuality Education.”
Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Loren Legarda followed suit.
Hontiveros said that despite of the withdrawal, the proposed bill “will not go back to square one,” pointing out that she reported out the bill in plenary in March 2023.
“I think that’s because the committee report is language. My belief is that since the committee report was already reported out in the plenary, it was already sponsored, and we are now in the period of interpellations, before we get to the period of amendments,” Hontiveros said at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.
Likewise Hontiveros took exception to a comment of her one of their colleagues that SB 1979 is meant to dupe the Filipino people since the CSE will be guided by international standards, which will teach 0-4 years how to masturbate, and encourage the youth to try different sexualities, among others, based on the standards set by the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
“The devil is also an inaccurate representation of the work of some of our colleagues, There’s nothing hidden about CSE in the bill,” she said, adding that the peddlers or disinformation are the ones duping the people.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hontiveros filed a substitute bill for SBN 1979 after President Marcos Jr. threatened to veto what he described as “woke” provisions of SBN 1979.
Marcos previously said he would veto the bill if enacted in its present form as he found the measure “appalling, abhorrent and a travesty to sexual education.”
He also said he feels strongly about teaching kids age-appropriate lessons and raised concerns about teaching very young children about masturbation and trying different sexualities.
Hontiveros said the new bill would address concerns raised by the President, her colleagues in the Senate and other sectors.
“The Senate needs to pass this measure which will help Filipinos. The Senate cannot turn its back on its task of performing its duties. That is why it is important for us to find a common ground so we can pass this urgent and important piece of legislation,” she said.
“So, this time, I hope the Senate gives this a fair chance. We studied it well and we listened to their concerns that’s why we now have a substitute bill. It is clear from the start that so much fake news, disinformation, and outright lies have been said about the bill,” she added.
The President, in a message sent to the media through Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez, said: “I need to read the substitute bill first before making any comments or decision.”
Hontiveros said among the revisions included in the substitute bill is the deletion of the words “guided by international standards” in the Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) program of the Department of Education (DepEd) “so that its true meaning will not be distorted by the critics.”
“I want to stress that we will teach the youth based on Filipino culture and context,” she said.
Also under the substitute bill, CSE will now be taught only to adolescents or those aged 10 to 19.
There is also a new provision which guarantees academic and religious freedom, and that access to contraceptives among the youth 16 years old and up should be with their respective parent’s consent.
She added that parent-teacher organizations will be regularly consulted to determine if there is a need to improve or update the measure.
She also said the provision requiring the CSE to be included in the curriculum of private schools as a prerequisite for their accreditation is now an option.
Hontiveros also urged the Senate leadership to schedule the bill for deliberations so the chamber can pass it before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die in June.