Marcos vows to veto anti-adolescent pregnancy measure over ‘absurd’ provisions

January 20, 2025 , 03:02 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(January 20, 2025) – Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to veto the measure seeking to prevent teenage pregnancy once it hurdled the Senate due to its “woke” provisions.

Senate Bill No. 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act is currently in second reading in the upper chamber. It was filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

Some senators, however, claimed that some of its provisions were “radical, inappropriate, and damaging to children,” including the alleged teaching of masturbation to children as young as four years old.

Echoing their arguments, Marcos described the provisions as “ridiculous” and “abhorrent,” questioning if the parents could still decide what’s right to be taught for their children.

“‘Yung mga sinama nila na woke na absurdities are abhorrent to me. If this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee all parents, teachers, and children, (na) I will immediately veto it,” he said in an ambush interview during the launch of Tesla Center Philippines in BGC, Taguig.

The chief executive clarified that he still supports implementing sex education.

“I still believe that sex education in terms of teaching kids anatomy, of the reproductive systems of males and females is extremely important. Consequences of early pregnancy. The prevalence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Kailangan ituro lahat yan para alam ng mga kabataan,” said Marcos.

In response, Hontiveros refuted the claims of Marcos, saying there is no provision in the bill teaching children about masturbating.

She also dismissed the allegations that the bill is simply copying the provisions regarding comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or World Health Organization (WHO).

ALSO READ: Hontiveros refutes ‘fabrications’ about proposed comprehensive sex education

The number of girls under 15 years old who gave birth increased by over 35% from 2,320 in 2021 to 3,135 in 2022, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

(With reports from Maricel Halili, News5)

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