MANILA, Philippines – Family planning advocates asked Catholic bishops yesterday to stop “distorting the truth” about the Reproductive Health Bill pending in Congress.
Ben de Leon, The Forum for Family Planning and Development president, said Catholic bishops must be held accountable for the deaths of 11 mothers every day due to pregnancy-related complications.
“Contrary to what the oppositionists are saying, reproductive health promotes the freedom of an individual to found a family,” he said.
“Reproductive health does not promote abortion but rather prevents it.”
Reproductive health includes safe and legal family planning methods like vasectomy and tubal ligation, De Leon said.
Ramon San Pascual, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. executive director, said Catholic bishops should allow Congress to do its work.
“Congress should now approve House Bill 5043 and Senate Bill 3122 because the people demand family planning and reproductive health education and services,” he said.
“Various surveys conducted since 1991 until 2009 reveal that 87 percent of Filipinos say that family planning is important while 74 percent believe that the government should provide budget for family planning education and services.”
De Leon urged the public to go for presidential candidates who support family planning and the reproductive health bills.
“Presidential candidates supporting reproductive health show that they are aware of the people’s needs and the duty of government to provide the right information and services on reproductive health,” he said.
Bishop Rodrigo Tano of the Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood said he was “disturbed that some Church people are threatening presidential candidates.”
“That’s quite a misuse of religious authority,” he said.
“I don’t think religious authority should be used to intimidate candidates concerning their stand. I hope our presidentiables will not be cowed. There may not even be such a thing as a Catholic vote.”
San Pascual said almost all the presidential aspirants have positioned themselves with the RH bill.
“Let’s put the RH bill as a central issue in this election. It is a legitimate electoral issue… The candidates should make their positions very clear.”
Beth Angsioco, Reproductive Health Advocacy Network secretary general, said aspirants for elective posts supporting the RH bill are now under attack.
“The (Catholic Church) will put pressure but such pressure, based on past elections, will not work,” she said. – Sheila Crisostomo, Reinir Padua, (The Philippine Star)
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
