Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Monday emphasized the need to strengthen the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012 (RH Law) by enacting the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, amid what she described as the “national emergency” of teenage pregnancy in the Philippines.

Hontiveros’ statement came in response to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa’s expressed reservations about Senate Bill (SB) 1979, stating that the existing RH Law is already sufficient.

“I would like to remind the Department of Health Secretary that the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Bill strengthens the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law,” said Hontiveros, the bill’s sponsor.

“Now that teenage pregnancy remains a national emergency, it is only right that we strengthen the RPRH Law,” she added.

In a radio interview on Sunday, Herbosa argued that there is no need for new legislation, as the RH Law already addresses issues like unplanned pregnancies and maternal deaths.