Lawmakers push for recall approval of controversial teen pregnancy bill

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A stock photo of a pregnant woman (Canva)

Metro Manila, Philippines - Two lawmakers in the House of Representatives are pushing for the recall of a bill aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancies amid growing criticism of its counterpart measure in the Senate.

In a statement on Sunday, Jan. 19, CIBAC Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva said House Bill 8910 or the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act should be reviewed again at the committee level. The House plenary approved the measure in September 2023.

“The bill contradicts Biblical principle and Constitutional mandate of giving the parents the natural and primary duty to rear their children. It also betrays the Constitutional policy of the state responsibility to promote and protect the physical, moral and spiritual well-being of the youth,” Villanueva said.

The religious leader said the bill serves as a “camouflage and entry point” for foreign ideologies import.

The congressman’s son, Senator Joel Villanueva, earlier said several lawmakers in the upper chambers will withdraw their co-authorship on the Senate counterpart of the bill.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed a resolution on Friday, Jan. 17, also urging the House to return the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act to the committee level for further hearings. He emphasized the need to ensure the bill's compliance with the Constitution and family laws.

Rodriguez described the bill as deceptive, saying it goes beyond its stated focus on preventing adolescent pregnancies and protecting teenage parents.

“Many provisions of the bill aim to institutionalize Comprehensive Adolescent Sexuality Education (CASE), which is a different and separate subject matter from adolescent pregnancy. This is violative of Article IV, Section 26, Paragraph (1) of the Constitution,” Rodriguez said in a statement on Saturday, Jan. 18.

The lawmaker echoed concerns raised by various religious groups, arguing that the bill's proposed adoption of international standards could "hyper-sexualize children at a very early age," undermine parental authority, and promote risky behavior, among other issues.

The counterpart bill is facing challenges in the Senate after a viral video released this week by advocacy group Project Dalisay highlighted several concerns and called for the proposal to be scrapped entirely.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, stated that many of the concerns raised were unfounded. She clarified that international standards would serve only as a guide, with implementation remaining the responsibility of the Department of Education and other relevant agencies.

She urged the Senate leadership to schedule plenary deliberations to address the issues.