MANILA, Philippines — Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has warned that teaching sexual pleasure and orientation at a young age could lead to their confusion and decline of morality.

According to the lawmaker, it is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children about sexual education, not the schools. 

“I firmly believe that sexual education should remain the responsibility of parents, not schools. Mas mainam na ang mga magulang ang nagtuturo sa kanilang mga anak tungkol sa ganitong sensitibong usapin, ayon sa kanilang paniniwala at kultura,” he said.

Zubiri said that schools should be teaching about morality, discipline, and the importance of family values as sexual education does not conforms to the “conservative” nature of the country and that moral values should be “preserved.

“Dapat ang itinuturo natin sa kanila ay ang tamang moralidad, disiplina at pagpapahalaga sa pamilya. Teaching sexual pleasure and orientation at such a young age could lead to confusion and moral decline,” he said.

He likewise said that passing the bill could lead to more adolescent pregnancy because of experimentation.

“We have seen the effects of liberal sex education policies in other countries, where children as young as six years old are being taught how to use contraceptives and engage in sexual activities,” he said.

Students should be protected from absorbing these topics that could potentially lead to “premature sexual experiemntation,” he said.

Zubiri did not suggest an alternative solution to the problem but said that the country could counter the issue “without resorting to controversial sex education programs that could do more harm than good.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. criticized parts of Senate Bill 1979 on Monday, saying some proposed sex education policies include “woke” ideas unsuitable for children.

“I was appalled by some elements of that. All this “woke” that they are trying to bring into our system … That every child has the right to try different sexualities. This is ridiculous. It is abhorrent. It is a travesty of what sexual and sex education should be to the children,” he said.