Councilor Pilar Braga, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Culture and Arts of the City Council of Davao, on Tuesday expressed her concern over Senate Bill 1979, also known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023.
According to Braga, the bill threatens the moral fabric of society, the sanctity of the families, and the innocence of the children.
In her resolution passed on Tuesday titled “Expressing Strong Opposition to Senate Bill No. 1979 and its CSE provision”, Braga stated that though seemingly well-intentioned, it harbors provisions that undermine the shared values and parental rights.
Authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who heads the Senate Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality committe, she stated that “age and development-appropriate” CSE shall be standardized and implemented in all public and private basic education institutions.
The CSE shall include topics such as human sexuality, informed consent, effective contraceptive use, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, sexual abuse and exploitation, gender equality and equity, and gender-based violence, among others.
Section 6 of the bill stated that CSE shall be integrated into the school curriculum, guided by DepEd and international standards.
“The bill’s title suggests a noble preventing adolescent pregnancy, however, embedded within its framework is the adoption of a curriculum called Comprehensive Sexuality Education,” Braga said.
She said this curriculum, based on a UNESCO technical working guide, contains alarming provisions such as teaching children as young as four years old about childhood masturbation; introducing six-years-olds to the concept of bodily pleasures through the five senses; and advocating that by age nine, children have their own sexual rights.
“These lessons, go beyond the bounds of age-appropriate education. They intrude upon the innocence of our children, presenting them with explicit and unnecessary content at a tender age when they should be enjoying the simplicity of childhood,” Braga said in her privileged speech during the council’s session.
Braga said as public servants, it is their duty to protect the sanctity of the families and safeguard the future of the children.
“We must not allow our education system to become a platform for controversial ideologies that disregard the moral and spiritual foundations of our society. Let us be clear: this is not a battle against education, but a stand for education that upholds decency, respect, and responsibility. It is a call to action to all faith-based communities, civic organizations, and concerned parents to come together and voice their opposition to this bill,” she said.
In the Senate, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Joel Villanueva expressed their strong opposition to the said Senate Bill.
