6 senators withdraw support for adolescent pregnancy bill

Six senators have withdrawn their support for the "Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023" (Senate Bill No. 1979), reducing its chances of passing in the Senate.

The senators who withdrew their signatures from Committee Report No. 41 include Joseph Victor Ejercito, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Christopher "Bong" Go, Ramon Revilla, and Loren Legarda.

They cited concerns raised by stakeholders and the need for further dialogue to address misconceptions and objectionable portions of the bill, while acknowledging the urgency of the adolescent pregnancy issue.

Senator Nancy Binay had previously expressed reservations about the bill's age-appropriateness and suggested it needed further study.

Some senators originally stated they never intended to support the bill or were included due to secondary committee assignments.

Critics claim the bill will mandate teaching masturbation and that comprehensive sexuality education will sexualize children and promote homosexual/bisexual behavior, though proponents deny these claims.

Child rights advocates criticized the withdrawal of signatures, calling the move "unfair" and counterproductive, noting the bill has been in development for nearly a decade.

The bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives in September 2023 but has stalled in the Senate since August 2024.