Senate President Francis Escudero expressed opposition to the current version of Senate Bill 1979, a proposed law aimed at addressing teenage pregnancy in the Philippines, but emphasized that it is still undergoing the legislative process.
“It’s still subject to the procedure of legislation, the rigors of legislation which, among other things, include debate, interpellation, and amendment. So there has not yet been a vote on the final version,” he said.
Recently, Senator Risa Hontiveros announced her intention to introduce a substitute bill. This came after seven senators withdrew their support for the original version.
The withdrawal of signatures raised questions about the bill’s future. Escudero noted that if enough senators withdraw support, SB 1979 could be sent back to committee for further revisions.
“The one being withdrawn is the old version that is being replaced. But can it still be changed if it has already been withdrawn? That is one of the things that the Committee on Rules will discuss if necessary,” the Senate President explained.
“It seems like both actions happened simultaneously or in reaction to each other. I just don’t know which came first, the chicken or the egg,” he added.
Escudero also revealed that he submitted several proposed amendments to Hontiveros and while he acknowledged her willingness to listen, he has yet to review the revised version of the bill.
“I tried to refine and remove the provisions that have little relevance to adolescent pregnancy…the provisions that are irrelevant to adolescent pregnancy include those related to anti-discrimination and various genders. Because as far as I know, there is still only one gender that becomes pregnant,” he said.
One contentious issue is the inclusion of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools, which critics argue introduces inappropriate topics to young children, sparking backlash from parents and advocacy groups.
Organizations like the National Coalition for the Family have launched petitions against SB 1979, claiming it undermines traditional family values and that some provisions are irrelevant to addressing adolescent pregnancy.
Hontiveros defended the bill, asserting that it does not promote inappropriate education for children and said much of the criticism stems from misinformation about its contents.
