MANILA, Philippines — Following backlash from religious groups, at least seven senators have withdrawn support for the controversial anti-teenage pregnancy bill, which includes a provision for mandatory comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in schools.

In a letter to Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday, January 21, senators Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, and Bong Go requested the removal of their signatures from Committee Report No. 41, which was jointly prepared by the Senate committees on women, justice, and finance in March 2023. 

The committee report is about the controversial Senate Bill (SB) 1979, or the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, which 19 senators had signed, including former senator, now education chief, Sonny Angara. Senator Raffy Tulfo had requested to be one of the co-authors on December 12, 2024. 

“In light of the recent feedback and numerous concerns raised on Senate Bill No. 1979, entitled an Act Providing for a National Policy in Preventing Adolescent Pregnancies, Institutionalizing Social Protection for Adolescent Parents, and Providing Funds Thereof, under Committee Report No. 41, we respectfully request the withdrawal of our signatures from the said committee report,” the senators’ letter read.

In a separate letter on Wednesday, January 22, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also requested the withdrawal of his signature from the report. 

“I arrived at this decision after I have carefully evaluated the sentiments and grave concerns of various private organizations that have expressed strong opposition on the proposed legislation,” Estrada wrote.

Senators Loren Legarda and Bong Revilla later followed to express their withdrawal of support for the bill. Revilla is running for Senate reelection. 

Apprehension

The bill sparked uproar in the predominantly Catholic Philippines nearly two years after it was filed, following the release of a video by the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC) earlier this year. The coalition claimed that the bill’s provision for CSE would be based on the Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe, developed by the World Health Organization’s regional office for Europe.

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The goal of the CSE, which will integrated in all levels of education, is to “develop” the skills of young people for them to make “informed” decision. The bill also emphasizes that the delivery and implementation of CSE will not be left to the discretion of teachers or school administrators. 

“It shall be integrated into the school curriculum, guided by DepEd and international standards,” the bill states. This clause has drawn criticism, with opponents arguing that the reference to “international standards” could lead the country to adopt European guidelines, particularly the provision suggesting that children aged 0 to 4 be taught about “enjoyment and pleasure when touching one’s own body, and early childhood masturbation.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself echoed this concern, saying that he had read every detail of the bill and would certainly veto it if passed by Congress.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, the principal author of the bill, rejected the misinformation spread by critics, insisting that the word “masturbation” does not appear in the bill. After reviewing the 25-page document, Rappler found no mention of masturbation.

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However, Hontiveros said she is open to accepting amendments to the bill in order to help in its passage.

In a separate statement on Wednesday, Hontiveros said she understood her fellow senators’ apprehension. She said she would file a substitute bill to address the concerns of various groups.

“Naiintindihan ko na baka may mga konsiderasyon silang iniisip na nagtulak sa pag-withdraw nila sa isang bill na naglalayong tumugon sa tumataas na kaso ng teeanage pregnancy,” she said. (READ: Why are teen pregnancies still up? DepEd is failing, say CWC, solon group)

(I understand that they may be thinking of considerations that led to their withdrawal from a bill aimed at addressing the rising cases of teenage pregnancy.)

DepEd review

Angara has also distanced himself from the bill, saying he was only made a co-author as he chaired the Senate finance committee at the time.

In an interview on Wednesday morning, Angara acknowledged that there is no mention of masturbation in the bill. However, he stated that the Department of Education will also review the CSE.

“I think tama ‘yong statement ni Pangulo na dapat age-appropriate ‘yong ating itinuturo. ‘Wag tayong mag-introduce ng konsepto na kumbaga offensive or hindi angkop, hindi nga age-appropriate. Hindi tamang ituro sa ganoong edad,” he said.

(I think the President’s statement is correct, that what we teach should be age-appropriate. We shouldn’t introduce concepts that are offensive or not suitable; really not age-appropriate. It’s not right to teach such things at that age.)

The senators’ withdrawal comes just months before the 2025 midterm elections. Binay and Villar are term-limited and will be running for mayor of Makati and Las Piñas represenative, respectively, while Go is seeking a fresh term in the Senate. — Rappler.com