Hontiveros pushes for PAP bill amid teen pregnancy surge

Senator Risa Hontiveros reiterated that the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) law is insufficient to address the rising cases of teen pregnancies, emphasizing the critical need for additional measures like the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy (PAP) bill.

Hontiveros highlighted that the PAP bill, Senate Bill No. 1979, is crucial for tackling the increasing rates of teenage pregnancy across the country.

This initiative comes after Health Secretary Ted Herbosa suggested that the RPRH Law alone is sufficient to address the issue of teen pregnancy.

Hontiveros argued that with teenage pregnancy declared a national emergency, strengthening the RPRH Law through the PAP bill is a necessary step to focus government attention and resources on this problem.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has previously expressed strong opposition to certain provisions of the bill but reaffirmed his support for sex education, including topics like anatomy, the consequences of early pregnancy, and the risks of HIV.

Hontiveros stressed the importance of providing adolescents with accurate information and services beyond the scope of the RPRH Law to safeguard their rights, stating, "Kailangan nila ng angkop na impormasyon at serbisyo, dagdag sa nakatakda sa RPRH. Hindi dapat ipinagkakait sa kanila ang magproprotekta sa kalusugan nila."