In a recent development, the responsibility to reconcile differing versions of the adolescent pregnancy prevention bill has been handed over to the bicameral conference committee. This decision was highlighted by Barangay Health Wellness Party-list Representative Angelica Natasha Co, who stressed the committee’s crucial role in addressing the discrepancies between the House and Senate drafts of the bill. The announcement came on Monday, January 20, 2025, as the nation continues to grapple with the issue of teenage pregnancies.
The House of Representatives had previously passed House Bill 8910, which focuses on preventing teenage pregnancies and establishing social protections for young parents and their offspring. This bill proposes the implementation of comprehensive adolescent sexuality education (CASE) tailored to be community-based, culturally sensitive, and age-appropriate. However, the Senate’s version, Senate Bill 1979, has stirred controversy, particularly due to its approach to sex education, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has publicly criticized as overly progressive and inappropriate.
President Marcos has voiced strong objections to certain elements of the Senate bill, describing them as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘abhorrent,’ especially the inclusion of topics like masturbation in early education. Despite these criticisms, Marcos supports the inclusion of essential educational topics such as human anatomy, the consequences of early pregnancy, and the risks associated with HIV.
Representative Co aligns with the President’s views on the necessity of providing accurate and age-appropriate sex education to adolescents. She believes that such education is vital for empowering young people to make informed choices, thereby enhancing their overall well-being and helping to break the cycle of poverty often associated with early parenthood.