Adolescent pregnancy surge prompts senate bill, meets opposition

Lawmakers push Senate Bill 1979 to prevent adolescent pregnancy through comprehensive education and health services. (Illustrator Warren Espejo)

Due to the alarming rise in adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines, lawmakers are pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1979, or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act. Authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros, the bill seeks to address teenage pregnancy through education and support systems, but it has faced opposition from groups citing cultural and moral concerns.

The proposed legislation mandates the integration of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools for children aged 10 and above. It also seeks to establish an Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Council composed of representatives from government agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM).

However, the bill has drawn criticism from conservative groups and several lawmakers. Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and other critics argue that the bill could lead to the early sexualization of children. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed disapproval of the bill’s contents, calling some of its provisions “ridiculous” and “abhorrent,” and has signaled a possible veto if passed in its current form.

In response to public concern, Senator Hontiveros filed a substitute version of the bill in January 2025. The revised measure removed references to international standards and clarified that CSE would only be mandatory for adolescents aged 10 and up, with added provisions safeguarding academic and religious freedoms.

Despite these changes, seven senators JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Bong Go, Cynthia Villar, Bong Revilla Jr., Loren Legarda, and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada have withdrawn their support from the committee report recommending the bill.

As of April 2025, Senate Bill 1979 remains pending for second reading. Its fate depends on ongoing debates and the willingness of lawmakers to reach a consensus on how best to address the country’s growing adolescent pregnancy problem.