MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wants to first review the revised version of Senate Bill (SB) 1979, known as the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, before reconsidering the initiative.
The Chief Executive’s statement came after being asked by the media whether he would alter his position on the teenage pregnancy bill after it was revised by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
“I need to read the substitute bill first,” President Marcos told the media on Thursday.
The President previously indicated his support for the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) Program but he voiced concerns regarding certain “ridiculous” and “abhorrent” provisions within SB 1979.
President Marcos then asserted that he would promptly veto the legislation if it were to be “passed in that form.”
Hontiveros, the author and sponsor of the bill, introduced a substitute measure for SB 1979 on Wednesday, addressing concerns raised by various groups.
Hontiveros revised Section 5 of the proposed legislation, which previously permitted all adolescents to access health facilities, goods, and services “without discrimination and without the need for parental consent.”
The substitute bill stipulates that access to health services must be “responsive and sensitive to the particular needs of the adolescent.”
Additionally, Section 6 of SB 1979 mandates that the CSE be integrated as a compulsory component of education, aiming to normalize discussions surrounding adolescent sexuality and reproductive health while eliminating stigma at all levels. It also calls for the standardization and implementation of CSE in all public schools./PN