The goal of the proposed Senate Bill 1979, also known as the "Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy" legislation, is to develop a nationwide program to address the concerning number of adolescent pregnancies, some of which occur in children as young as ten.
However, in an effort to have SBN 1979 struck down, the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution's Project Dalisay filed an online petition, arguing that the law seriously jeopardizes the nation's moral, spiritual, and social underpinnings.
Petition to stop the bill
The group is urging the public to voice their objection to the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program's implementation as well as the SBN 1979 requirements through the petition.
Project Dalisay alerts that the program exposes issues that are not acceptable for young brains.
"It promotes a comprehensive approach to sexual health education, which includes topics that challenge traditional family values, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and rights related to sexual activity and reproductive health," the group insisted.
“The program introduces concepts like gender fluidity and “sexual diversity, suggesting that people can choose their sexual identity beyond the binary of male and female. It also emphasizes sexual rights, which could be interpreted as encouraging early sexual activity, and includes discussions on contraception, abortion, and non-traditional relationships,” the petition reads.
Project Dalisay asserts that the CSE program can teach children that "they have rights to confidentiality and privacy from their parents and provide information on accessing sexual commodities or services without parental consent," undermining the authority of parents to counsel children on issues of faith, morality, and sexuality.
According to the group, the curriculum can desensitize kids to sexual themes or normalize child sex as CSE may mainstream risky sexual practices like oral and anal intercourse while leaving out important medical information.
Additionally, the CSE program may undermine young people's moral and spiritual growth, which would go against the Constitution's pro-God, pro-family, and pro-religion clauses.
Appeal to withdraw implementation
The petitioners are appealing to the Department of Education (DepEd) and lawmakers that they remove the execution of the CSE program, including its inclusion in the curriculum.
“We firmly believe that the protection of parental rights, family values, and the moral upbringing of our children is essential to the future of our nation,” the group said.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate basic education committee, stated that he intends to conduct an investigation in support of legislation regarding the church group's assertion that the bill and the Department of Education's sex-ed curriculum are founded on "Western" and "liberal" standards of sexuality .
Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros rejected the group’s assertions that the measure teaches sex-ed to as young as kindergarten and that parental consent would be abolished under the sex-ed program.
