Gabriela decries mandatory pregnancy test in Baguio college

The Gabriela Women’s party-list has strongly denounced the mandatory pregnancy test being imposed by the Pines City Colleges (PCC) on all its female students in three colleges, saying it is “highly discriminatory.”

The women’s rights group on Tuesday said the PCC’s rule “violates the Magna Carta of Women or Republic Act 9710,” and “perpetuates an old view and stigma that pregnancy is socially unacceptable and against the norm.”

A letter by the PCC’s medical clinic dated Oct. 25 was leaked online earlier in the day.

The letter, signed by the school’s physician and vice president for administration, informed PCC’s college of dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing of a mandatory pregnancy test on all its female students scheduled from Nov. 7 to Nov 9.

READ: Baguio college implements compulsory pregnancy tests, draws flak online

The progressive group said this policy also “creates undue pressure” and “lays unreasonable blame to pregnant female students,” as they will be “sanctioned with dropping their subjects and one-year delay.”

“This policy glosses over the reality that women, especially female students, are vulnerable victims in a patriarchal society, and that unplanned pregnancy is never their fault,” Gabriela added in a statement.

The group said it plans to formally write to PCC to officially register their opposition to the policy. /ee

READ: Mandatory pregnancy testing in schools may violate women’s rights — professor