Campus safety advocates warn that efforts to oppose the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) under the guise of “protecting children’s innocence” increase students’ vulnerability to sexual abuse.
Enough is Enough, a group formed in 2022 by survivors of school-based sexual abuse, denounced the backlash against Senate Bill 1979, also known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill.
They described the opposition as “recklessly harmful,” especially for adolescents lacking sexual and reproductive health awareness.
“We find the ongoing disinformation campaign against SB 1979, pushed by former Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno and conservative groups, deeply concerning and recklessly harmful to adolescents,” said group spokesperson Kate Leonor.
The group criticized opponents of the bill for perpetuating ignorance about sexual abuse risks.
“Under the guise of protecting children’s innocence, they misconstrue SB 1979’s contents and reject change, effectively promoting ignorance and abuse,” Leonor added.
For more than a week, Sereno and the family rights organization "Project Dalisay" have spearheaded an online campaign to block the bill.
They argue that recommendations from UNESCO and the World Health Organization for CSE promote explicit content, including childhood masturbation as normal behavior in children under four.
These claims prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to oppose the bill, stating he would veto it if passed "in that form."
Debunked by experts
The Department of Education (DepEd) and Senator Risa Hontiveros, the bill’s author, refuted these claims, emphasizing that the Philippine CSE curriculum is adapted to local cultural contexts.
In a briefer, DepEd clarified that it does not strictly adhere to international guidelines but integrates elements tailored to Filipino needs.
Advocates argue that misinformation about the bill exacerbates existing gaps in sex education, leaving students ill-equipped to recognize or respond to sexual abuse.
"Minors are sexually harassed and abused even in supposedly safe spaces like schools and homes,” Leonor said. “The current education system’s inability to empower young people about their sexuality is exploited by predators.”
Call to update sex education approaches
Leonor expressed concern about President Marcos’ opposition, suggesting it reflects outdated perspectives on CSE.
“The president’s fixation on his era’s sex education approach sends a grim message to victims and advocates,” she said.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) joined the criticism, warning that misinformation about SB 1979 harms children.
“This long-overdue legislation seeks to protect children from teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and abuse by providing age-appropriate education,” HRW Senior Researcher Carlos Conde stated.
The United Nations also urged the public to verify information on CSE, emphasizing its importance in empowering youth with accurate knowledge.
"Too many young people transition into adulthood with incomplete information about sexual and reproductive health, leaving them vulnerable to coercion, sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancies,” the UN noted in a statement.
Conde urged President Marcos to retract his statement and renew his support for the bill, citing his earlier endorsement before the recent wave of misinformation.
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