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

Right to protection and services vs early pregnancies a human rights concern—youth group

 

On December 10, Human Rights Day, a youth group called on the Senate to prioritize the passage of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) o PAP bill. “Krusyal ang passage ng TPP bill para kamtin ng kabataan ang kanilang karapatan sa reproduktibong kalusugan at sekwalidad. Reproductive rights are human rights,” stated Crisahle Pavillon, spokesperson of PM Kabataan.

 

The issue of early pregnancy has long been a concern for Filipino youth, especially those aged 10-19 years. According to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2021, 10 percent of the total number of births in the country were from young mothers. Despite existing programs aimed at reducing this incidence, the numbers of early pregnancies remain high, significantly impacting the youth in terms of their health, education, future, as well as the economy and society.

 

“It is clear that early pregnancy poses severe challenges. Many young mothers are forced to stop their education due to the discrimination they face—not only in schools but also on social media and even from healthcare workers. Furthermore, early pregnancies pose health risks to these young individuals, including complications during pregnancy, repeat pregnancies, and lack of access to affordable and humane health services. There is also a lack of knowledge regarding sexuality, reproductive health, and the concept of consent, which puts the youth at risk of abusive relationships and coercive sexual encounters. In fact, most cases of adolescent pregnancy are a result of statutory rape—clearly a form of violence against children,” said Pavillon.

 

She added that “Thus, this issue is not merely due to young people's flirtations or impulsiveness but is a social issue that requires collective action from families, schools, the government, and the entire community. The teen pregnancy prevention bill aims to protect the youth against early pregnancy and ensure that adequate support is provided for young parents.”

 

Some key objectives of this bill include:

 

1.      Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE): This educates individuals about sexuality, reproductive health, consent, and respect for the body in a way that is age- and culturally appropriate. It aims to guide the youth to avoid early pregnancies by providing them with formal and accurate information regarding sex and their sexuality.

 

2.      Social Protection Services: This includes maternal health services, home-based schooling, PhilHealth coverage, counseling, and other services that can help young parents recover and address the stigma or discrimination they face.

 

3.      Access to Reproductive Health Services: The TPP Bill ensures that youth aged 16-18 will have direct access to information and health services, along with guidance from health workers.

 

 Currently, the TPP Bill has garnered sufficient support but still needs to be prioritized in the agenda to complete the interpellation process and proceed to a vote in the Senate. However, with the turn of political events in the country, the youth’s demand for its passage has been ignored.

 

“We are running out of time. Nevertheless, we will not stop. We will remain steadfast in our call for the passage of this bill. To the youth, especially girls and young women, let us collectively advocate for a humane, safe, and just society. Let’s support the TPP Bill—a gift of unity and responsibility for the future of girls and young women!” Pavillon ended. 

December 10, 2024

Partido Manggagawa Kabataan

It takes decades for pro-women laws to get Congress’ nod compared to only 2 weeks for RBH 7

Haste doesn’t just make waste; it also bears a dubious agenda. This is according to women leaders in the labor movement who are celebrating International Women’s Day today.

 

Partido Manggagawa (PM) Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda, said they were referring to the Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH 7) that was swiftly approved by the House of Representatives’ Committee of the Whole with only six days of marathon hearing.

 

In an earlier statement, Miranda said the lightning approval of RBH 7 “is equivalent to a political hack which is unthinkable for a huge political body known for being laggard and protracted in its lawmaking process, especially when it comes to women and other social development agenda.”

 

Miranda cited as an example the lengthy years of enacting the reproductive health bill, which took 14 years, and now the proposed divorce law, as well as the right to safe and affordable abortion even for special cases, may even take longer.  The same is true, she added, when it comes to the proposed wage hike as the last act of Congress in legislating the wage hike was in 1989.

 

Photos of women’s rallies yesterday that includes demands against charter change and for public services can be accessed at PM FB: https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/ 

08 March 2024

Ping, anti-women and pro-capitalist

"Ping Lacson's statement was not only anti-women, it's pro-capitalist, too. Not unexpected from a misogynist with a need to prove his macho credentials," said PM Secretary-General Judy Ann Miranda. 

This was in reaction to Lacson's statement disparaging the proposed legislation on menstrual leave. This year, Spain passed a law granting women workers paid menstrual leave for three days a month with the option to extend it to five days. Studies reveal half of women experience dysmenorrhea for one or two days and for some, the severe pain hinders their ability to work and function normally.  

          

"We are all too aware that capitalists have fought against benefits for women's reproductive rights and well-being since the dawn of the industrial revolution. And here comes Ping Lacson, a former legislator who has a lot of followers, ridiculing women's demand for menstrual leave, seemingly the 21st century spokesperson of capitalists against women's right to reproductive health and well-being," continued Miranda.

Lacson's statement was likewise thoughtless and careless. Indeed, one concrete measure of how sincere legislators are is how they view and speak about women's rights and well-being.

25 March 2023

Judy Miranda 

Women workers demand implementation of RH Law

 

“Kababaihan ang nahihirapan habang hostage ng ibang grupo ang implementasyon ng RH law.”

 

Members of Partido Manggagawa (PM) expressed this frustration as they joined reproductive health advocates in asking the Supreme Court to lift its TRO on the implementation of RA 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.

 

According to PM Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda, the TRO issued by the high tribunal did uphold the constitutionality of the RH law but purchase and distribution of RH supplies and were withheld prior to the formulation of new rules in granting certification to certain contraceptives.

 

“We respect the granting of due process to the petitioners but it can also be argued that the RH Law can be implemented beyond the specific supplies being objected to since there were already approved safe contraceptives available in the market prior to the enactment of the RH Law.  In other words, access to safe contraceptives can readily be made available in all RH facilities nationwide,” said Miranda.

 

Miranda said a big part of RH Law can be implemented while contested supplies are being subjected to certification and recertification by concerned agencies.

 

She added that the previous and present administration were supportive of RH Law and therefore implementation of this measure, whether in part or in whole, should not be a problem for the executive.

 

“We therefore pray to our justices that the RH Law will be given its day as soon as possible for the interest of our women, especially the for women workers,” concluded Miranda.

October 10, 2016

Women workers decry removal of P1B budget for contraceptives

Indignations against the slashing of the P1B budget for contraceptives continue to grow, with the labor partylist group calling for its restoration by any means available in the legislative and executive department. 

 

Scores of women members of Partido Manggagawa (PM) picketed the Senate Building this morning to express their condemnation against its members, specifically Senators Sotto and Legarda, who initiated the cut based on flimsy grounds. The groupvowed more actions and a vigorous campaign until the budget cut is reversed.

 

The group argues that the deletion of funds for family planning commodities such as condoms, pills and IUDs will adversely affect the delivery of social services to poor and indigent families.

 

“The hard-won victory of the RH Law is now is being killed softly by legislative maneuvering of anti-women solons,” stated Judy Ann Miranda, secretary-general of PM and one of its partylist bets.  Miranda will join a presscon by pro-RH groups to condemn the move against the implementation of the reproductive health law.

 

“Ang RH law ay nasa tamang panahon, bakit ito kinapon?” read one placard of the protesters, referring to Lola Nidora’s line ‘sa tamang panahon’ in a polular segmentKalyeserye of a noontime show Eat Bulaga where Sotto is part of.

 

Another placard read: “Legarda, Ligaw na,” which is a swipe against Sen. Legarda who is known before to be pro-women.

 

“Sotto’s anti-RH position is a given but his latest action showed that he is not only number one in senatorial surveys.  He is also women’s enemy number one,” said Miranda.

 

Miranda said Sotto is issuing stupid arguments like condoms and pills as being abortifacients which were resolved issues during the long deliberations over the RH bills.

 

As to Legarda, Miranda said: Iba na siguro ang panahon (perhaps time has changed), as her argument for shifting the family planning budget to air defense was an outright betrayal to women cause.

 

The group said the House’s contingent to the Bicameral Conference Committee were equally responsible for this budget loss to women.

 

PM is calling for Quality Public Services in its electoral platform and one of its components include wider access of women to quality services, including reproductive health.

January 12, 2016