Advocates bullish on RH bill, with Aquino’s help

MANILA, Philippines—Advocates of the reproductive health bill are bullish about the prospects of passing the controversial measure in the new Congress, hopefully with a little help from presumptive president-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Despite the low number of incoming representatives who are already supportive of the bill, at least it will not be “killed by presidential interference” as what happened in the last Congress, said Ramon San Pascual of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development at a forum in Quezon City Thursday.

“At the very least, Aquino will allow a healthy debate on the RH bill,” said San Pascual.

Best hope

Their best hope is that Aquino, who supported the bill as a senator, would certify the bill as “urgent,” added Benjamin de Leon of the Forum for Family Planning and Development.

The reproductive health bill mandates the Department of Health to promote both natural and artificial contraceptives. It also calls for sex education in all schools.

De Leon said they still expected fierce opposition from the Catholic Church.

San Pascual said incoming Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon already said he would re-file the bill once Congress opens.

By his count, San Pascual said there are about 65 representatives in the incoming 15th Congress who are already in favor of passing the RH bill. There are 39 who oppose the bill, while around 120 are undecided.

San Pascual said they would campaign hard, adding that there are 54 female representatives in the incoming Congress who may be persuaded to vote for the measure.

At the Senate, he said there were already 15 senators supportive of the bill.

According to San Pascual, the bill was killed in the last Congress because Malacañang “tried to court the support of Catholic bishops.”

“But we are sure that it won’t happen again under the new administration,” he said.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Riza Hontiveros, another panelist in the forum, said the incoming president is “much more open and supportive of the RH bill.

“During the campaign, it was clear that he gave primacy to leaving the choice to the couple,” said Hontiveros, who ran for senator under the Liberal Party slate of Aquino.

De Leon said that while prospects for the bill are good under an Aquino presidency, “we would like to hear a statement on family planning from the new president in his first Sona (State of the Nation Address). We also hope he would certify a new RH bill as urgent.”

‘Catholic vote’

On the so-called “Catholic vote,” San Pascual said the electoral victory of the two authors of the RH bill, Rep. Edcel Lagman and Rep. Janette Garin, despite a vilification campaign by the Catholic Church “is proof that there is actually no Catholic vote.”

“Despite the strong campaign of the Church, we can say that there is no Catholic vote. It also proves that RH is a relevant policy issue…It doesn’t show an immaturity as claimed by the Church, but a maturing electorate,” San Pascual said.

Fr. Joe Dizon, another forum panelist, said the Catholic Church should show more “compassion” in the RH debate.

“The issue should be tackled in a rational debate and not through the coercion of the electorate not to vote for certain candidates. That’s partisan. The Church should recognize that there are conscientious objectors to its stand. Pastoral compassion should come in, not threats. That is not the approach of the Lord,” Dizon said. –Alcuin Papa, Philippine Daily Inquirer