“…Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him…” –Psalm 127:3

I ask Senator Risa Hontiveros to please specify the concrete steps in her proposal to prevent teenage girls from becoming pregnant. Despite already putting forward Senate Bill 1888, or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, the policy is still greatly lacking. Based on news reports, she submitted this proposal in order to lay down a “national policy” to prevent teen pregnancy – what is this policy? What are the steps? Will they be taught how to use condoms? Instructed to take abortion-inducing medicines? Encouraged to undergo tubal ligation?

This proposal appears to be ill-crafted and hastily put together without reasoned and impartial deliberation. We concede there are many young girls getting pregnant and it must be looked at seriously. Do Hontiveros and her allies know how many of these pregnant teens come from impoverished families living in crowded living conditions? Does she know how many were impregnated by relatives?

In my capacity as a lawyer who provides free legal counseling, I have learned there are many girls who become pregnant by relatives. Free legal aid group Buklod ng mga Abogadong Tagapagtaguyod ng Adhikaing Sambayanan has received many such complaints; however, they are often withdrawn as the parties are blood relatives.

Some unsolicited advice for the senator: Consider using the word of God when instilling values to both the young girls and their families. Impress upon their minds the stories of believers who were blessed with good lives after obeying God’s word. People will see what responsible pregnancy is with the use of this technique.

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Thank God, in the name of Jesus, free legal assistance program “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas” is back! The show airs Mondays to Fridays, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Star Radio Catbalogan in Western Samar and live on Facebook at the Melanio Lazo Mauricio, Jr. (facebook.com/attybatas) and Star Radio Catbalogan (facebook.com/starradio901) pages. To call or send messages, contact 0977-805-9058./WDJ