The Senate Committee on Basic Education on Tuesday announced that it will begin an investigation into the Department of Education’s implementation of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education program.
Panel head Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian stated that the motion to probe was prompted by debates on Senate Bill No. 1979, also known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Law, proposed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
“Amid debates on implementing sex education in schools, where the President has emphasized the important role of parents, the Senate Committee on Basic Education will conduct an inquiry on the DepEd’s implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education and its consistency with the mandate of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012 or Republic Act No. 10354,” Gatchalian said .
“It is worth noting that Section 14 of the RPRH Law already calls for age- and development-appropriate reproductive health education for adolescents,” he added.
The bill has faced criticism, with opponents arguing that it would strip parents of their authority to teach their children. However, Hontiveros has denied this claim.
Gatchalian expressed his support for efforts to reduce teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
“But we must do so in a way that recognizes the important role of parents and parent-substitutes in the formulation and implementation of policies that will have a lasting impact on the well-being of our children,” Gatchalian said.
In a separate statement, Sen. Imee Marcos emphasized that Senate Bill No. 1979, while differing from her own version, would not diminish parental authority in raising their children.
“While the present bill is significantly different from mine, in no way does it intend to deprive parents of their primordial authority and guidance. Instead, the DepEd, DSWD, DOH, and the entire community is precisely enjoined to assist parents with ‘medically accurate, culturally sensitive, non discriminatory’ information,” she said.