Senator Risa Hontiveros clarified the provisions under Senate Bill No. 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill, stating that it does not contain the words “masturbation” and encouraging children to “try different sexualities.”
In a social media post on Monday, the Senator reminded the public that provisions encouraging children to engage in masturbation and bodily pleasure as a form of sexual rights are not cited in the bill. According to Hontiveros, absolutely none of those concepts exist.
As the principal author of the bill, Hontiveros stated that the features of SB 1979 reflect the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), which aims to teach kids anatomy and the consequences of early pregnancy.
Under the CSE curriculum, learners will learn how to address health and safety concerns that are prevalent among the youth, with the guidance of their teachers and parents, implementing a collaborative approach.
“Mr. President, with all due respect, maliwanag na wala po sa bill kahit ang salita na “masturbation.” Wala din po yung “try different sexualities.” CSE contains the very same things you support: teaching kids anatomy, the consequences of early pregnancy, ‘yan po ang atin ding isinusulong,” Hontiveros said.
The clarification from the Senator stemmed after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. threatened to veto the bill, stating that its contents left him “shocked” and “appalled” after reading it in detail. Marcos said that the inclusion of such “absurdities” is abhorrent to him; adding that if the bill is passed in that form, he guarantees all parents, teachers, and children that he will immediately veto it.
Despite this, Hontiveros said that she is willing to accept amendments to refine the bill.
“I am willing to accept amendments to refine the bill, so we can steer it to passage,” she assured.
SB 1979 is sponsored in the Senate plenary and is on its second reading for interpellation and amendments.