President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has publicly declared his intention to veto Senate Bill 1979, a proposed legislation aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy, due to its controversial approach to sex education. Speaking at a media event in Taguig City, Marcos criticized the bill for including what he described as ‘woke’ elements that he found both ‘ridiculous’ and ‘abhorrent.’
Marcos, who initially supported the concept of sexuality education, expressed his dismay after thoroughly reviewing the bill. He was particularly disturbed by sections that he believed would hypersexualize young children, including instructions on masturbation and the notion that children should explore different sexualities. ‘Teaching four-year-olds how to masturbate and suggesting that every child has the right to try different sexualities is a travesty of what sex education should be,’ Marcos stated during the launch of the Tesla Center Philippines in Bonifacio Global City.
The President also highlighted the importance of parental rights in the education of their children, questioning whether parents would lose their authority to decide what and when their children should be taught. As both a parent and a grandparent, Marcos feels strongly about maintaining these rights.
Despite his opposition to certain aspects of the bill, Marcos remains supportive of teaching essential topics such as anatomy, the consequences of early pregnancy, and the risks associated with HIV. He believes these are crucial for educating the youth effectively.
Senator Joel Villanueva expressed gratitude for Marcos’s firm stance against the contentious provisions of the bill. Villanueva emphasized the need to protect children’s innocence and well-being, agreeing with Marcos that addressing adolescent pregnancy should not compromise these values. He also stressed the constitutional rights of families and parents to raise their children, urging lawmakers to safeguard these rights.