Noynoy wants contraceptives available in government health centers

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino visited Cebu yesterday to rally support behind his presidential bid but he also risked courting another misunderstanding with Catholic Church leaders.

If elected president, Aquino said his administration would set aside funds to buy contraceptives that would be available in government health centers.

He told a news conference in Mandaue City that Filipino families should have a choice whether to use natural or artificial means in family planning.

“The State cannot limit. What I am saying is that it should be the choice of the parents ( what method to use),” Aquino said.

Aquino said the government should not impose on the people what method to use. The State, he said, should only “educate and give accessibility” for their choices.

If a couple wants to use the artificial method, he added, the government should be there to support them.

“There is a provision in the Constitution of the separation of Church and State…we cannot have a Church-run state,” Aquino replied when asked about possible repercussions with the Church on his “pro-choice” stand.

He said the government should set aside funds to have contraceptives available in health centers.

At present, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in keeping a promise to Catholic Church leaders not to promote contraceptives, has not allowed the Department of Health to purchase or distribute them.

The Catholic Church has been promoting natural family planning and rejects House Bill 5043 or the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008.

The bill encourages the promotion of artificial family planning methods, teaching of adolescent sexuality in schools, and management of post-abortion complications.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal earlier expressed disappointment over Aquino when he learned that the son of former president Corazon Aquino, a devout Catholic, was pro-choice and had co-authored the Senate version of HB 5043.

Aquino said an error by a Senate staffer in labeling the bill had led to the misconception that he had co-authored the bill that was referred to his committee on local government for review.

Aquino, standard bearer of the the Liberal Party, is in Cebu for a two-day multi-sectoral consultation. His running mate, Sen. Mar Roxas was sick and did not join him.

The senator was accompanied by Akbayan Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquiel and former Bukidnon congressman Neric Acosta.

Aquino said he intends to meet Vidal “maybe in Manila” at another date to clarify his position since his Cebu sorties were tighty scheduled. He met with youth groups, labor groups, vendors and businessmen in Cebu and Mandaue cities.

Today, Aquino visits the Carmelite Monastery in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City then goes to the Sacred Heart Center for the launching of the Noynoy for President Movement-Cebu.

Aquino said he has been trying to set an appointment with Vidal but will depend on the cardinal’s available time since the prelate is older than him.

“He (Vidal) has not been given I think the correct information. I just want him to hear my side of it.”

Aquino said he never authored a bill on reproductive health. The bill is pending second reading in the House of Representatives.

“I have not yet signed it (the committee report) because I still want to interpolate. I may agree on some of the provisions of the bill but there are also some provisions which I may disagree with ,” he added.

Cebu-based pro-life advocates remain unconvinced Aquino would not supporting similar bills that favor artificial family planning programs.

“He (Aquino) never said that ‘I sponsored or supported (any reproductive health) bill.’ But he said ‘I am for RH’ and ‘We are overpopulated, so we need people management’. That also means that he is pro-RH,” said Dr. Rene Bullecer, Human Life International country director.

“He said this when he publicly said that he was running for office. There was also a lot of reaction from the Church when he made his announcement,” said the Cebu physician.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, Cebu Archdiocesan media liaison officer, said the senator’s statement should be examined. .

“How far can you be as a sponsor of a bill?” asked Dakay, adding that the Church had no proof that Aquino did not co-author or sponsor the RH bill.

Bullecer said he was wary of the identity and affiliations of Aquino’s advisers and supporters. He said he would rather have the senator associating with groups that uphold the teachings of the Catholic church on family planning.

“He will be influenced by the people surrounding him if he becomes president. His decision will not come from himself alone,” said Bullecer.

“If he has leaders from Couples for Christ…but he is surrounded by people we are fighting against, people who support the Reproductive Health bill.”

But Aquino, who is running on a campaign of “decency” and good government, said he was taught by the Church to follow his conscience.

“When I go to so many communities where there are so many people not being taken care of, (since) I am in government, I must take care of them so I must address that particular problem,” he said.

“I cannot ignore that problem. My conscience will not allow it. I will have to follow my conscience,” he said.

Aquino said he knows of a couple in Tarlac province struggling with 16 children.

“Nakokonsensya ako kung ganon ang sitwasyon. Hindi pwede na magpapatay mali na lang ako,” he said.

Butch Abad, Liberal Party campaign manager, said the church’s position against the RH bill did not have any impact on results of surveys that gauged the people’s preference for persident.

Abad said that Aquino continues to top surveys with a rate of at least 60 percent.

“This kind of a result has been going on for the past two months and just stayed there. If we go by the surveys, 80 percent of the people agree with Noynoy that we really have problems with population and that the state has to do something.”

Aquino said the country’s population doubled 20 years after the 1986 EDSA people power revolt and could double again in the next 10 years if population growth is not controlled.

“Mungkahi ko lang po. Paalaala sa mga magulang na meron silang responsibilidad sa bawat anak na dadalhin sa mundo. Pagdating dito obligasyon ng estado. Kung paraan kun paano mag iispasyo ng pamilya iyon po walang pakialam ang estado (I would like to remind parents that they have a responsibility to every child they bring into this world. When it comes to the State’s obligation, when it comes to deciding how to space childbearing in a family, the State should not intervene).”

Aquino said it was unfortunate that his critics use his stand on proper birth spacing as an issue against him. Reporters Dale Israel and Doris C. Bongcac and Editorial Assistant Bernadette Parco, Cebu Daily News