PENDING second reading at the Senate is the controversial Senate Bill 1979, also known as the teenage pregnancy prevention bill which, among other things, seeks to provide for a comprehensive sexuality education.
A cursory reading of the bill readily shows that the bill clashes with the constitutional child-rearing rights of parents over their minor children. This is evident in the bill's provision which provides minors the access to sexual and reproductive health care, which is composed of a full range of methods, techniques, services and health facilities — without the need for parental consent. While the bill further provides that adolescents below 15 years old shall be required to obtain consent from their parents or legal guardians, it exempts minors who have engaged or are engaging in sexual activity from such parental consent. The bill also allows alternative consent obtained by minors from a licensed social worker or a doctor, as a substitute to that of their parents. All of this implies that sex by minors is permitted under a state policy that substitutes the will of the state over that of the parents.
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