Presidential Communication Office / Wikimedia Commons
CV NEWS FEED // Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a Jan. 21 speech threatened to veto a proposed sex education law that he says is full of “woke absurdities.”
He expressed concerns that the bill, branded as a necessary guide to prevent HIV and adolescent pregnancy, would teach young children about inappropriate topics, UCA News reported.
“This is ridiculous,” Marcos said. “It is abhorrent. It is a travesty of what sex education should be.”
A detailed reading of the bill left Marcos “shocked and appalled by some of the elements,” including provisions he claimed would expose young children to inappropriate elements of sexuality, in addition to creating confusion about their natural orientation.
The legislation, titled “Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill,” was championed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, other lawmakers, and Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
Marcos stressed that as a parent and grandparent, he understands the importance of parental rights in deciding when and how to teach children about sexuality.
“The consequences of early pregnancy and the prevalence of HIV must be taught so children will know,” he affirmed. “But the woke absurdities are abhorrent to me. If this bill is passed in that form, I guarantee parents, teachers and children, I will immediately veto it.”
Supporters of the bill assert that it aims to provide “complete, medically-accurate, relevant, age and development-appropriate, and culturally-sensitive information and skills on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes, human sexuality and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy, and gender roles.”
Hontiveros expressed willingness to amend the bill to address Marcos’ concerns and facilitate its passage.
