Manila: Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday welcomed concerns on the implementation of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and provisions of Senate Bill No. 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, as he vowed to address pressing challenges among the youth including teenage pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and gender-based violence.
According to Philippines News Agency, CSE is defined as an 'age-appropriate, culturally relevant' program that aims to teach sexuality and relationships by providing learners with 'scientifically accurate, realistic, and non-judgmental' data, according to DepEd. Angara acknowledged the concerns regarding the current implementation of CSE and the provisions in SBN 1979, the Teenage Pregnancy Bill, in a statement.
Angara noted an ongoing collaboration between community organizations and health service providers to ensure that DepEd programs remain 'effective and culturally sensitive.' He emphasized the open-door policy of DepEd for opinions and suggestions, especially if they contain accurate details.
While clarifying that he has not filed any version of the proposed Teenage Pregnancy Bill during his legislative tenure, Angara mentioned filing a resolution to develop a comprehensive policy framework aimed at preventing early childbearing and mitigating its impacts during his time as a chairperson of the Youth Committee in the Senate.
As education chief, Angara assured a 'balanced' outlook and implementation of policies, stressing the need for a multi-sectoral approach to address challenges concerning the youth. He affirmed DepEd's data-driven strategy in tackling issues like teenage pregnancy, HIV, and gender-based violence.
Angara highlighted the importance of shaping life skills, values, and behaviors, underlining DepEd's commitment to the health and well-being of the youth. He also acknowledged the crucial role of parents' active participation in ensuring the welfare of learners.
On Tuesday, Angara reassured the public that no 'inappropriate concepts' related to the CSE program would be implemented in public schools, following a viral video posted by the Project Dalisay Facebook page. The video expressed dismay over certain provisions of SB 1979 and some program features of CSE, claiming these may 'hypersexualize children at a very early age.'
