Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos recently expressed strong opposition to a proposed law aimed at making sex education compulsory in schools. He believes that the law, which is particularly sensitive in a conservative and predominantly Catholic nation, could lead to inappropriate teachings for young children.
Marcos promised to veto the bill if it passes through Congress. He criticized its supporters, accusing them of promoting what he called a “woke” agenda. According to him, some elements in the proposed law are shocking and unacceptable.
The “Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy” bill has supporters who argue that mandatory sex education could help reduce both the high rates of teen pregnancies and the sexual abuse of minors. They believe that comprehensive teachings about sexuality could lead to better awareness and prevention.
Marcos stated, “Over the weekend, I finally read in detail Senate Bill 1979. And I was shocked by some of the elements of that.” He emphasized that teaching young children about sexual topics is not appropriate, claiming statements in the bill imply that four-year-olds would learn about masturbation and sexual identity exploration.
He made it clear, “If this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee all parents, teachers, and children: I will immediately veto it.”
The proposed bill would require schools to provide “age-appropriate” comprehensive sexuality education that is medically accurate, culturally sensitive, and inclusive. Since 2012, sex education has been part of the curriculum for public school students aged 10 to 19, but many private institutions, especially those linked to the Catholic Church, are not obligated to teach it.
Some opponents of the bill claim it resembles guidelines from international organizations that address topics like masturbation. However, the current bill does not explicitly mention this subject.
In 2023, the Philippine House of Representatives passed a different adolescent pregnancy prevention bill, but it did not become law because the Senate did not approve a similar version. As of now, the Senate has not set a date for discussing the current bill, making it unlikely to pass before the legislative session ends next month, just ahead of the May 12 midterm elections.
In the conservative Philippines, divorce is banned, and same-sex marriages are not officially recognized. Despite this, Marcos acknowledged the importance of teaching children about human anatomy to address issues like AIDS and early pregnancies. He stated, “Sex education is important, but the absurdities they included are abhorrent to me.”
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