Despite the mixed reactions to the proposed Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed his support for the program.

“The teaching of this in our schools is very, very, very important,” Marcos said.

He noted the increasing number of teenage pregnancies and its consequences. He emphasized that teenagers who become mothers must be aware of how they should support themselves, especially when they are taking care of their babies.

“When the mother is a teenager, she doesn’t know how to take care of the child. They don’t know how to take care of themselves when they are pregnant [and] what to eat when they give birth… what to feed the child,” he said.

Marcos said these are some of the things the government needs to address.

He said added teenagers must be knowledgeable about their “options” and the“consequences” of becoming young parents.

“And to make young people specially knowledgeable about the options that are truly available to us, and what the consequences are — what the consequences are of having a child too soon, too early,” he said.

“Children having children is a very difficult situation for both the child and the parent,” he added.

Earlier, family rights group National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC) aired its concerns about the program, particularly its concepts of “gender fluidity” and “sexual diversity,” contraception, abortion and non-traditional relationships.

The group noted that it contradicts traditional Christian and Islamic morality on family life.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the Department of Education is open to suggestions with regard to the implementation of the program.

Meanwhile, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) raised an alarm on the increasing number of child and adolescent pregnancies.

Citing the National Economic and Development Authority, the CWC called the issue “a national and social emergency.”

This as the CWC expressed its support for Senate Bill 1979, or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, stressing its need due to the very high cases of violence against children (VAC), including rape.

“According to the Philippine National Police-Women and Child Protection Center, VAC incidents continue to rise, while Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children cases are also increasing, which the government is actively addressing,” it said.