Gatchalian to start inquiry on comprehensive sexuality education
MANILA, Philippines — Panel on basic education chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is slated to launch a probe into the controversial Comprehensive Sexuality Education being implemented by schools pursuant to Department of Education Order (DO) No. 31.
Gatchalian, who chairs the chamber’s panel on basic education, told reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday that he held a consultative meeting with various stakeholders who have concerns about DO No. 31 and Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1979, otherwise known as the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnant Act of 2023.
“The Christian community is concerned about SBN 1979, so as chairman of the Senate committee on basic education, I listened to their grievances, their concerns. And they are also concerned about the current comprehensive sexuality education, which is being implemented now,” said Gatchalian.
READ: Hontiveros refutes critics of prevention of adolescent pregnancy bill
“So I will conduct a hearing on the present comprehensive sexuality education that is being implemented now through DO No. 31. So there are two—the proposal on the floor and the current DO No. 31 that is being implemented regarding comprehensive sexuality education,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementAccording to the lawmaker, one of the concerns raised by the Christian community was that students at any level—even those in kindergarten—would be subjected to comprehensive sex education.
Article continues after this advertisementApart from this, he said it was also concerning for the group that SBN 1979 may be too “attuned” to international standards, noting that Westerners are more liberal when it comes to sex education.
“Yun ang isa sa mga concerns nila doon sa batas pero ang concern ko naman [ay] doon sa ipinapatupad ngayong DO No. 31,” said Gatchalian.
According to Gatchalian, his panel is already preparing the documents needed for the probe. Pressed when he is expected to launch the investigation, he said he’s eyeing conducting it by “next week or the week after.”
Before this, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, author of SBN 1979, already refuted the circulating “lies” surrounding the legislation.
“The lies being spread on social media against this bill are shocking and infuriating. We all want what’s best for our children, but outright lies, misinformation, disinformation, and promoting fear can lead to more harmful decisions about our teen’s lives. They’re just confusing us,” she said.
The opposition lawmaker’s remarks came after the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution’s Project Dalisay made an online petition seeking to junk SBN 1979, claiming that the legislation poses a significant threat to the country’s societal, moral, and spiritual foundations.
Hontiveros, during a press conference also on Wednesday, debunked one by one these “lies,” maintaining that the legislation contains no provisions seeking to encourage masturbation in children aged 0 to 4 or teach bodily pleasure to children aged 6 to 9.
“Absolutely none of those concepts exist in our bill. Those lines in their supposed rebuttal are complete and total fabrication,” said Hontiveros.
She likewise emphasized that the controversial Comprehensive Sexual Education is not derived from Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe but only from responsible parenthood and reproductive health law.
“There is also nothing in the bill that states that foreign policies must be followed. So their posts that the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill is unconstitutional are really wrong,” said Hontiveros.
“I can confidently say [that] these outrageous claims from Project Dalisay were pulled out of thin air,” she added later on.