la bet88

Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero. (Photo from Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Some senators have expressed reservations over Senate Bill No. 1979 or the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023 that is being pushed in the upper chamber.

Senate President Francis Escudero said on Thursday he does not support the bill in its current form and has proposed several amendments to it.

Article continues after this advertisement

“It’s still undergoing the ‘rigors of legislation’ and is currently in the period of interpolation … I will await the final version that will be put to a vote where, hopefully, most of my proposed amendments will be carried,” Escudero said in a statement.

FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO Enrile questions INC ‘logic’ vs VP Sara Duterte impeach raps NEWSINFO Disbarment case filed vs former president Duterte NEWSINFO Marcos on Enrile's impeachment view: 'He's right' but 'it's problematic'

Sen. Joel Villanueva, a devout Christian and son of popular evangelist Eddie Villanueva, also opposes the bill.

“The title of the bill is very deceiving—preventing teenage pregnancy. But if we read the entire bill, just like what they are saying, the devil is in the details,” Villanueva said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

Article continues after this advertisement ‘Prelude to abortion’

He likened the measure to the proposed Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (Sogie) bill. “It’s like Sogie bill. Yes, it’s antidiscrimination but it’s like a prelude to same-sex marriage. This bill is also like a prelude to abortion,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Villanueva pointed out that there is a “massive, valid concern” from different groups that several provisions are “radical, inappropriate, damaging to children.”

fafa212 slot Article continues after this advertisement

For one, he said, the bill attempts to remove from the parents the authority to educate their children about sex by allowing schools, village officials, and other government agencies to teach minors about sexuality.

The senator added that he is opposed to the idea that the government’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) program would be patterned after other countries’ policies.

Article continues after this advertisement

“It should be based on our culture and beliefs. We are taking care of our youth. We need to guide them. That’s why I don’t see any national emergency for sexuality education,” he said.

Villanueva added that some senators plan to withdraw coauthorship on the measure.

Total fabrication

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, author of the measure, said SB 1979 has no provisions about teaching or encouraging masturbation for children aged 0 to 4 years old and teaching “bodily pleasure” or “sexual rights” to children aged 6 to 9 years old.

She said the bill, which is pending on second reading, has been crafted based on principles of responsible parenthood and reproductive health law. She refuted claims that it is unconstitutional.

She likewise emphasized that the controversial CSE is not derived from Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe.

“There is also nothing in the bill that states that foreign policies must be followed. So claims that the prevention of adolescent pregnancy bill is unconstitutional are really wrong,” Hontiveros said.

But oil prices fell as markets were unimpressed with a pledge by China’s finance minister to boost the world’s second-biggest economy.

The 91-, 182-, and 364-day T-bills fetched average rates of 5.444 percent, 5.668 percent, and 5.623 percent, respectively.

“Absolutely none of those concepts exist in our bill. Those lines in their supposed rebuttal are complete and total fabrication,” she added.

She earlier identified the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution’s Project Dalisay as responsible for spreading misinformation about the measure.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, a representative of Project Dalisay, said their group is opposed to some provisions of the bill, stressing that the measure runs counter to the Constitution.

Escudero, meanwhile, denied that Sereno influenced his stand on the measure.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“She did not (tell me not to support it). She just expressed concerns over it. When I spoke to her, she said that their group is against the bill per sela bet88,” Escudero said.

READ NEXT House bill wants city, town councils to livestream their sessions House bill seeks to prohibit automatic add-ons in online trans... EDITORS' PICK LA fires: As winds ease, firefighters push to contain wildfires PNP summons mall guard over viral video mistreating young vendor PBA: San Miguel makes another import switch this conference NPCC evaluates steps for DA to declare food security emergency Girl in viral squabble with mall guard a scholar, not syndicate member Trump’s top diplomat pick: China must ‘stop messing around’ with PH MOST READ NLEX warns of heavy traffic on Jan. 18-19 due to PH Arena concert Bacolod bishop warns public against a ‘missionary priest’ BSP eyes PH shift to coin-lite society Army’s 4ID has new chief as Marawi war hero ends career Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments