Defend CSE holds mobilizations in Mendiola and Cebu for passage of Teen Pregnancy Prevention bill

Today the Defend CSE network united in a powerful demonstration in Mendiola and Cebu of solidarity, sending a clear and resolute message to legislators: support Senate Bill 1979 and accelerate the nationwide implementation of CSE. This critical piece of legislation aims to fortify adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) initiatives that are under threat by misinformation campaigns.

 

“We believe that CSE is not a threat, but a right,” said Judy Ann Miranda, a leading figure in Defend CSE and secretary general of the labor group Partido Manggagawa. She added that “This is not just about passing laws, it’s about ensuring every young person has the right to accurate, responsible, and empowering education.”

  

Defend CSE, a broad network of civil society organizations (CSOs), advocates, and stakeholders in child rights, youth development, women’s rights, health, and education, stands united in its unwavering commitment to defend Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in the Philippines.

 

“We must continue to safeguard the work of educators, policymakers, and those championing CSE in the Department of Education,” stated Miranda. She pointed out that “Fear-mongering and misinformation must not be allowed to erase the progress we’ve made in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people.”

 

In celebration of Valentine’s month, Defend CSE expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the countless advocates, legislators, families, educators, and other stakeholders who have stood strong in the fight to protect young people’s rights to accurate and empowering education. Despite the continued efforts of opposition groups to undermine CSE through fear-mongering and disinformation, Defend CSE reaffirms that these divisive tactics have no place in a dialogue built on love and care for the well-being of children and youth.

 

CSE is a vital tool for protecting young people from real risks such as gender-based violence, exploitation, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. It empowers youth with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to make informed decisions about their bodies, relationships, and future. By equipping young people with comprehensive, developmentally-appropriate, and culturally-sensitive education, CSE ensures they can build safe, healthy, and respectful lives.

 

The Defend CSE movement calls for continued advocacy and action to protect CSE against all forms of distortion and opposition. As they rally for the passage and effective implementation of Senate Bill 1979, they pledge to fight for the rights of young people and ensure CSE remains a key element of the country’s education system.

 

Defend CSE remains committed to working alongside policymakers to ensure that sexual and reproductive health education continues to be a pillar of youth empowerment, human rights, and public health in the Philippines.

 

Photos of the Mendiola and Cebu rallies today can be accessed at FB: Partido Manggagawa

---

About Defend CSE

Defend CSE is a collective network of civil society organizations, advocates, and stakeholders dedicated to defending the rights of young people to access comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). The movement is committed to advocating for youth empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, and education policies that prioritize the well-being of future generations.

 

Press Release

February 5, 2025

Defend CSE

Nagkaisa calls on workers to up the pressure on pending wage hike bills in Congress

 

The Nagkaisa Labor Coalition on Wednesday urged workers to keep up the pressure on both the Labor Committee and their respective district representatives, demanding swift action on the long-pending P150 wage hike bill before Congress adjourns sine die next week in preparation for the 2025 national and local elections.

 

The group issued the call as it welcomes the commitment made by House Speaker Martin Romualdez in a meeting with labor leaders to act on the pending wage hike bills.

 

Affirmatively the labor committee has calendared a public hearing on Thursday, January 30, to wrap up its deliberations on the wage hike proposals.

 

Nagkaisa said the P150 wage hike bill has been stalled in the Labor Committee since March 2024, while wage orders from regional boards remain insufficient against the ever-increasing cost of living.

 

The coalition stressed the urgency of the situation, urging Congress and Malacañang not to delay further action. “We cannot afford to wait any longer. With every passing day, the value of our wages continues to diminish as inflation continues to rise,” the statement said.

 

With less than a week left in the 19th Congress’ session before the long election break, labor groups remain hopeful that the wage hike bill may still beat the red light.

PRESS RELEASE

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition

29 January 2025

 

PAP at CSE ay para sa proteksyon ng mga batang babae

 

Walang mali at kulang sa panukalang PAP bill. Ang mali ay ang luma at tradisyunal na kaisipan na ang sex education ay nakakasira ng kaisipan ng kabataan.

 

Ang sinisira ng problema at teenage pregnancy ay ang buhay at kinabukasan ng mga batang ina. Para maiwasan ito, responsibilidad ng estado at maging ng mga pamilya na buksan ang isipan ng mga kabataan sa wasto at tamang gawin sa kanilang sekswalidad, hindi ang maghasik ng pangamba na ang sex education ay isang karumaldumal na bagay.

 

Ang Teenage Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Bill ay isang mahalagang hakbang upang tugunan ang patuloy at kritikal na isyu ng maagang pagbubuntis at ang kaugnay nitong karahasang nakabatay sa kasarian. Nararapat lamang na linawin ang ilang maling paniniwala ukol sa panukalang batas na ito:

 

1.           Hindi tinuturuan o hinihikayat ng TPP Bill ang kabataan na gumawa ng sekswal na gawain, lalong lalo na ang masturbation. Ang Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) ay hindi tungkol sa panghihikayat sa kabataan na  makipagtalik, kundi pagbibigay ito ng tamang kaalaman ukol sa kanilang katawan, tamang pagpapasya, at ligtas na pakikipagtalik.

 

2.           Ang CSE ay hindi hango sa European standards. Ito ay naayon sa mga values, kultura, at konteksto ng lipunang Pilipino upang masiguro na ang mga kabataan ay makakakuha ng wastong impormasyon base sa kanilang edad at kultura.

 

3.           Ang sex education ay hindi naghihikayat ng promiscuity o kalaswaan. Sa halip, tinutulungan nito ang kabataan na magkaroon ng sapat na kaalaman upang gumawa ng tamang desisyon at maprotektahan ang kanilang sarili mula sa karahasang sekswal at mapang-abusong relasyon.

 

4.           Hindi inaalis ng TPP Bill ang tungkulin ng mga magulang sa paggabay sa kanilang mga anak. Kinikilala sa TPP Bill ang karapatan ng mga magulang na gabayan ang kanilang anak sa usaping sexual health at reproductive health.

 

Isa rin sa pangunahing layunin ng TPP Bill ay suportahan ang mga batang ina at ama. Kabilang dito ang pagbibigay ng akses sa home-based schooling, tamang impormasyon sa paggamit ng contraceptives/akses sa contraceptives, at counseling. Sa pamamagitan nito, matutulungan silang harapin ang diskriminasyong nararanasan sa paaralan, sa media, at sa ating healthcare system. Binibigyan nito ng pagkakataong makabangon muli ang mga kabataang biktima ng rape, ng pang-aabuso.

 

Higit sa lahat, ang maagang pagbubuntis sa Pilipinas ay hindi lamang usaping personal o pampamilya—ito ay isang suliraning panlipunan na dulot ng kahirapan, karahasang nakabatay sa kasarian, at kakulangan sa tamang edukasyon at mga serbisyo. Kinikilala ng TPP Bill ang halaga ng pagkakaroon ng tamang impormasyon at serbisyo ukol sekswalidad at kasarian ng kabataan. Ito ay isang karapatan na nararapat na natatamasa ng kabataan upang proteksyunan sila laban sa sexual abuse at mapang-abusong relasyon.

 

Kaya’t nananawagan kami sa Senado at kay President Marcos na ipasa ang TPP Bill at agarang tugunan ang isyu ng maagang pagbubuntis at karahasang nakabatay sa kasarian. Puntuhin ang mga probisyon sa bill na hindi malinaw — maging patas sa mga bata, mga babae, at kabataan na nangangailangan ng bill na ito para sa kanilang kinabukasan.

 

At bilang isang lipunan, kasama na ng ating gobyerno, responsibilidad natin pangalagaan ang ating kabataan anuman ang kanilang edad at kasarian.

 

Ang Partido Manggagawa, kasama ang mga kasapi naming nanay at kabataang babae, ay tutungo sa Senado sa January 28 para sa panawagang ito.

 

Ipapahayag ang aming paninindigan sa kawastuhan ng Teen Pregnancy Bill at pagsuporta sa aming Kampeon na si Senator Risa Hontiveros. 

Livestream of Defend CSE Movement today: https://www.facebook.com/CRNPhilippines/videos/1159546235887049/

Press Statement

January 24, 2025

Workers rally to protest zero subsidy for Philhealth and call for board resignation

 

In a protest at a Philhealth branch office today, workers decried the zero subsidy for Philhealth in the national budget that was signed by President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. last December 30. Dozens of members of the Nagkaisa labor coalition picketed the Philhealth branch at Mother Ignacia, Quezon City and called for the resignation of the board of the public health insurance body.

 

“In the 2025 national budget, there is zero subsidy for Philhealth but full subsidy for trapos in the form of AKAP, AICS, TUPAD and confidential funds,” stated Judy Miranda, Partido Manggagawa (PM) secretary general, which was among the groups that participated in the protest.

 

PM called on workers and the poor to continue to press for the restoration of the Philhealth subsidy because this may be repeated next year if the Marcos Jr. administration does not see any outrage from citizens. “Senior citizens, poor mothers and indigent Filipinos who are supposed to be covered by Philhealth as per the Universal Health Care Act stand to lose their benefits due to the zero subsidy,” Miranda explained.

 

PM slammed both the executive and the legislative for not allocating any subsidy for Philhealth. “It is the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte and all other officials that must be taken out, not support for health insurance of workers and the people. Zero subsidy for Philhealth, NO! Zero budget for confidential funds, YES!,” asserted Miranda.

 

However, the group added this is also partly the fault of Secretary Herbosa. PM called for the resignation of Herbosa for his failure to make good on commitments to improve Philhealth benefits for its members, many of whom are workers. “Sectary Herbosa should step down since he cannot do his job and make good on his promises. He committed to increasing by 50% across-the-board hike in Philhealth benefits which has not materialized. Philhealth has excess funds since it is scrimping on benefits. Herbosa, Alis dyan!,” Miranda asked.

 

PM’s demand for Herbosa’s resignation is part of the group’s advocacy for quality public services. PM earlier joined the Nagkaisa labor coalition in filing as intervenor in the Supreme Court case to oppose the transfer of P90 billion of Philhealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury. The group has also been demanding public laundromats and whole day childcare centers to ease the burdens of employed and unemployed women.  

Photos of the protest today can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid02yrYgp8jD5bUoRBMDCX5HKcVUAM1d1Kva6BJcpve2o7mhh2vnwd81dtP2nGgiJEPml

Press Release

January 15, 2024

MEDIA ADVISORY: Workers action today at Philhealth

MEDIA ADVISORY

15 Jan 2025

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition

 

REQUEST FOR COVERAGE 

ON THE ZERO SUBSIDY OF PHILHEALTH

 

When: Jan 15, 2025 (Today)

Time: 10AM 

Where: PhilHealth Mother Ignacia

—————————

NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition in the Parliaments of the Streets with Health Care Professionals and Advocates to call:

 

Budget 2025 Nakamamatay!

 

Makatao at Makamamamayang Budget!

Hindi pang-trapo at pang-eleksyong pakinabang!

 

Phil Health Natin Huwag Nakawin!

 

—————————

For inquiries you may contact

Ms. Ruby @ +63 917 638 0247

Mr. Eddie @ +63 917 808 9144