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Marcos threatens to veto teen pregnancy prevention bill if not amended
Marcos threatens to veto teen pregnancy prevention bill if not amended
Nation
Marcos threatens to veto teen pregnancy prevention bill if not amended
by Alessandra C. Frianela21 January 2025
Courtesy: MPC Pool

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voiced his strong opposition to the "woke absurdities" in Senate Bill 1979, particularly criticizing its approach to sex education aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancies in the country.

In a media interview in Taguig City on Monday, Marcos reiterated that he would veto Senate Bill 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill if it is passed in its current form.

"Pero 'yung mga sinama nila na mga 'woke' na absurdities are abhorrent to me and I am already guaranteeing, hindi pa napasa ito pero if this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee all parents, teachers, and children, I will immediately veto it," said Marcos.

However, Marcos clarified that he supports sex education, describing it as "extremely important," particularly emphasizing the need to teach anatomy in schools, including the male and female reproductive systems.

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He further mentioned that he remembers being taught about cell division and its role in reproduction, reiterating that young people must understand this information.

The President expressed being 'shocked' and 'appalled' after reviewing the bill in detail over the weekend, particularly due to the proposed content, which allegedly included instructions on masturbation.

"Because this is—all this woke that they are trying to bring into our system. You will teach four-year-olds how to masturbate, that every child has the right to try different sexualities," said Marcos.

"This is ridiculous, it is abhorrent. It is a travesty of what sex education should be to the children," he added.

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Marcos also stressed the importance of parental rights in being the primary educators of their children.

He further noted that despite his opposition to certain provisions in the bill, he believes it is still important to teach the youth about topics such as anatomy, the consequences of early pregnancy, and the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

"So, let me be very very clear. I still believe that sex education in terms of teaching kids the anatomy of the reproductive systems of male and female is extremely important, the consequences of early pregnancy, the prevalence of HIV. Kailangan ituro lahat 'yan para alam ng mga kabataan," he mentioned.

Last week, Marcos expressed his support for sexuality education for children, highlighting its relevance to the current situation in the country.

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Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros, the principal author of the bill, clarified its provisions, stating that it does not include the terms "masturbation" or encourage children to "try different sexualities."

She further added that she is open to accepting amendments to the bill in order to facilitate its passage.

Other lawmaker's perspective

Manila City 6th District Representative and House Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Bienvenido Abante Jr. criticized the bill, calling it "garbage."

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He reiterated his belief that the bill is "garbage legislation" that should not be passed in the chamber.

Senator Joel Villanueva also expressed gratitude to President Marcos for his firm stance against certain bill provisions.

The senator acknowledged the need to address the rising cases of adolescent pregnancy in the country but emphasized the importance of preserving children's innocence.

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