To my fellow Catholic educators, colleagues, former students, YFIA and Frassati collaborators, friends, and all who believe in Almighty God:

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law was introduced to address reproductive health concerns, unwanted pregnancies, and teenage pregnancy in the Philippines. However, after more than a decade and a staggering government budget of ₱129 billion in 2023 alone, the results remain disappointing. This raises important questions: Is the RH Law effective? Are we addressing the real problems?

Let’s look at the numbers:

• From 2015 to 2019, 51% of pregnancies in the country were unwanted, with nearly 1 million unsafe and illegal abortions happening annually.
• Teenage pregnancy remains a pressing issue: 36 out of every 1,000 Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 give birth, and recent data shows a 35% rise in teen pregnancies in 2024.

These figures reveal that, the RH Law has failed to address the root causes of these issues.

Now, a new Senate bill seeks to address teenage pregnancy. While for some people might say this is about time to upgrade RH Law, it risks repeating the same mistakes if it overlooks the deeper issues.

As a Catholic educator, viewing from Christian perspective, it is essential to emphasize that the root problem lies not merely in the lack of access to proper sex education or reproductive health services but in the erosion of moral values and the lack of proper understanding of the sacredness of human sexuality.

The Catholic Church teaches that sex is a gift from God, designed for the unitive and procreative purposes within the sacrament of marriage. This divine design fosters both the physical union of husband and wife and the creation of new life. It is a reflection of God’s love and creative power. The Church’s perspective highlights that the misuse of sexuality, particularly outside of marriage, leads to profound personal, societal, and spiritual consequences, as evidenced by the surge in unintended pregnancies and the accompanying challenges.

Promoting sex education as a primary solution often overlooks the importance of instilling values such as chastity, self-discipline, and responsibility. These virtues, rooted in Catholic moral teachings, form the foundation for addressing issues like teenage pregnancy and unwanted pregnancies at their core. Without addressing the moral and spiritual dimensions, policies and programs will merely treat the symptoms rather than curing the disease.

What can we do?
Instead of focusing only on the necessity of teaching adolescent proper sex education and reproductive health with the use of contraception we need to go deeper and promote values that lead to real change:

1. Teach values-based education.
   Schools and communities should offer programs that teach the dignity of human sexuality, the sanctity of marriage, and the importance of chastity. These aren’t just religious beliefs—they are truths that lead to a healthier, more meaningful life.
2. Strengthen family formation.
   Families are the first teachers of children. The government and the Church must support parents in guiding their children to make moral and informed decisions about relationships and sexuality.
3. Build a culture of accountability and support.
   Faith-based groups can help young people understand the consequences of their choices, while also offering care and redemption for those who have made mistakes.
4. Refocus government policies.
   Instead of prioritizing this new Bill, the government should invest in programs that strengthen the moral and spiritual foundation of society. Partnering with religious groups can make these efforts more effective. Spending taxes of the people for sex education materials and contraceptives are proven ineffective as per statistic shows that there are no decrease on population growth and unwanted pregnancies since the passage of RH Law. This new bill if passed, may also be an instrument of corruption and fund mismanagement.

If you will revisit the RH Law, it already includes provisions for education on issues like gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy. However, we must ensure that these provisions are implemented properly and include a values-based approach. Addressing the moral and spiritual dimensions of these issues is key to creating lasting solutions.

The Catholic Church offers a holistic perspective: one that respects the dignity of every person, the sanctity of marriage, and the sacredness of human sexuality. If we shift our focus from merely managing the symptoms to addressing the root causes, we can create a culture that values life and love as God intended.

Let us work together to create a better future — one rooted in truth, love, and faith.

Yes to LIFE! No to Culture of DEATH (Divorce, Euthanasia, Abortion, Terrorism and Hedonistic Lifestyle)!