Though the Philippines has passed several laws aimed at advancing the rights of women, there remain barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights across the country. This not only impacts women but also adolescents, who face significant obstacles in their exercise of rights and access to services. Opposition to birth control and sexuality education is mired in anti-rights efforts that have sought in recent years to undo decades of progress.

This brief examines the trajectory of comprehensive sexuality education policy in the Philippines and highlights the context, shifts in approach, and continued legal and policy barriers that prevent adolescents from making informed decisions about their health and developing respectful relationships.