MANILA, Philippines — Four senators have officially withdrawn their support for the contentious bill aimed at curbing adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines.
In a letter addressed to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday, Senators JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, and Christopher “Bong” Go requested to remove their signatures from Committee Report No. 41, which contains Senate Bill No. 1979 or the “Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023.”
The senators cited growing concerns and feedback from the public as reasons for their decision.
“While we recognize the urgency of addressing adolescent pregnancy, we believe further consultation with stakeholders is necessary to clarify misconceptions and refine objectionable provisions,” they wrote.
The bill proposes a national strategy to reduce adolescent pregnancies, including the integration of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) into public and private school curricula, following guidelines from the Department of Education (DepEd) and international standards.
However, critics like Project Dalisay, part of the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution, argued that referencing “international standards” could introduce controversial concepts, such as childhood self-awareness practices.
Senators Imee Marcos and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who originally proposed measures against teen pregnancies, have also distanced themselves from Senate Bill No. 1979.
They claimed the substitute bill diverged significantly from their original drafts, with Revilla stating that its provisions were not his proposals.
As debates continue, the bill’s fate remains uncertain amid calls for more comprehensive dialogue and refinement.