By Nichole Therese B. Buyoc | PTV Public Affairs Intern
The debate on minors’ access to birth control highlights a sensitive balance between safeguarding young people and respecting parental authority.
While women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, the question becomes more complex when applied to minors. Should young people be allowed to access contraceptives on their own, or should parents guide them in these decisions?
Teenage pregnancy continues to be a growing concern in the Philippines. According to newly released data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 3,433 girls aged 10–14 gave birth in 2023, rising from 2,113 in 2020—a surge that has intensified calls for better reproductive health education and access.
This issue takes center stage in this week’s episode of Iskoolmates, as Malabon National High School students engaged in a spirited debate on whether minors should be allowed access to birth control without parental consent.
Representing the ‘pro’ side were debaters Rui, Jerlyn (Zi), and Andrew. Meanwhile, Dyhlle, Luke, and Jhaira stood for the ‘con’ side, arguing against allowing minors to obtain birth control without parental involvement.
Access without parental consent
The discussion commenced with a question: “Dapat ba talagang payagan ang minors na maka kuha ng contraceptives ng walang pahintulot ng magulang?”
Rui strongly agreed that minors must have the freedom to access contraceptives without parental consent. She mentioned that laws must protect its subjects, and specified that they will focus on children who were unprotected by the law.
“Our team believes na dapat may freedom ang minors na makakuha ng contraceptives kahit walang parental consent, dahil tungkulin ng batas na protektahan sila. Base sa research namin, maraming bata ang hindi sapat na napapangalagaan sa kasalukuyang sistema, at dahil dito mas nalalagay sila sa panganib kapag wala silang access sa tamang proteksyon.”, she said.
Jairah then argued that parents should have the right to decide for their own child and that we still need parent consent in order to access such pills. “Since our side agrees that there should be [a] parent consent, we believe that parents have the right to guide their own children.”
“Since very conservative ‘yong country natin, well-known na kailangan ng parent’s consent to access such things, especially birth control [pills]. They’re not just pills, these are drugs that could have side effects and risks that children may not know.”
The discussion continues with a question on maturity and legal responsibility.
According to Rui, age doesn’t define maturity. “Hindi porket minor ay hindi sila mature. May autonomy sila over their bodies and rights to their privacy para sa medical needs nila.”
She also emphasized that studies are suggesting that some minors below the age of 10 years old show matured decision-making ideas.
Even so, Jhaira opposed with an argument that minors still need parental guidance, emphasizing that contraceptives are not ordinary medicines. “Yes, some minors can be mature enough to decide, but as long as you’re still under your parents’ care, their consent matters because they’re the ones responsible for you.”
Privacy vs. parental responsibility
The tone of the debate escalated as the host continued to ask the question: “Paano ba nababalanse ang karapatan ng mga kabataan kagaya natin sa privacy at responsibilidad ng magulang na proteksyonan sila?”
Zi discussed the difference of consent and guidance. “Consent [is] mismong magulang ang nag dedesisyon for their children, [but] may privacy to autonomy nga po tayo na ang bata, may rights sila for their own body. While guidance is the way of giving advice—but the children [are] still the one to decide.”
However, Luke argued that minors need parental consent because contraceptives have potential health risks, and they require proper guidance due to their more vulnerable physical condition.
“Kaya kailangan talaga ng consent ng magulang para magabayan sila sa mga desisyon, dahil responsibilidad ng magulang na protektahan ang anak. Lalo na’t usaping pang-kalusugan ito.”
“Ang contraceptives ay may mga side effects—hindi ito parang nabibili lang sa sari-sari store. Hormonal drugs can pose medical risks, at mas vulnerable pa ang mga minors dahil hindi pa sila kasing-stable ng adults physically.”
Age threshold and maturity test for minors
With that said, the host linked the discussion to the question, “Dapat ba’ng magkaroon ng age threshold plus maturity test para sa birth control access without consent?”
Drew highlighted that implementing a system that builds awareness is good, because minors become more responsible when they have both guidance and trust from their parents.
“Maganda talaga na ma-implement ’yong ganitong system para mas maging aware kami. Kasi kapag may tiwala ang parents, mas nabibigyan kami ng healthy na freedom, at mas naiintindihan namin ’yong mga decisions na ginagawa namin. Sabi rin sa research, the more na nagtitiwala ang parents, mas nagiging knowledgeable at responsible daw ang mga kabataan.”
Dhylle on the other hand argued that Republic Act No. 10354 (The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012) requires parental consent for minors accessing birth control because parents are seen as essential guides, especially since young people may lack proper guidance on such sensitive matters.
“According to the law RA [10354], kailangan ng minors ang parental consent pagdating sa pag-access ng mga bagay tulad ng birth control. Bakit? Dahil hindi madaling makuha ng kabataan ngayon ang tamang gabay, at sa konteksto ng ating bansa, mula pa noong panahon ng pananakop, malakas at buo ang relasyon ng magulang at anak.”
Government and schools’ role in reproductive health education
As the last set of debaters intensified the debate, the host asked the question “Ano ang puwede maging role ng government or policies [na maaaring] gawin ng government and schools para maging guided ang ating mga kabataan tungkol sa sex-related health services at birth control access in the setting na wala at merong consent ng magulang?”
Rui began her statement explaining “Pareho at iisa lang ang role ng dalawa, na palakasin ang reproductive health education, kasi sila ang nagtuturo sa mga bata at nagsisilbing legal basis para mabigyan ang kabataan ng knowledge tungkol sa birth control at sexual health. So kailangan na patatagin nila.”
She emphasized that both parties share the same role of strengthening reproductive health education by teaching children and providing the legal basis for knowledge on birth control and sexual health, making it important to strengthen their role.
Jhaira stated, because our country is very religious and such policies are often not fully implemented, parents sometimes receive the education themselves so they can guide their children safely, especially regarding health conditions only they should know.
“Since alam natin na very religious ang bansa natin, most of the time, hindi fully implemented ‘yong mga ganitong policies or education. Kaya minsan, parents na lang ang nakakakuha ng ganitong kaalaman para kung kailangan ng parental consent, sila na mismo ang makakapagturo sa anak, lalo na’t mas kilala nila yung health condition o anumang sakit na dapat alam lang ng parents.
This episode showcases the need for a balanced approach of respecting the autonomy of minors and parental guidance. Nevertheless, it is important to share knowledge and the ability for minors to make informed decisions for themselves.
In the end, it is through trust and awareness that we can truly safeguard the health and rights of our youth.
-dac/avds
