Public consciousness on bill pushed

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — To reinforce its campaign on the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill in line with the goal of having it passed before this year ends, an official from the Region 7 office of the Population Commission (PopCom) stressed that one of the best ways to advance their advocacy is to push for public consciousness.

PopCom regional director Atty. Bruce Ragas said the agency has started to conduct an information drive in schools and has even organized meetings to dialogue with some religious groups likewise supportive of the bill to widen PopCom’s advocacy of the bill.

“We have already stirred up the public’s consciousness but we still need to strengthen our efforts so that others will understand the importance of RH services,” Ragas said.

He disclosed that all population officers in the region have been directed to conduct activities related to the PopCom’s advocacy on the RH Bill, including communicating efforts with lawmakers representing local areas in providing accurate information to effect more objective discussions about the bill.

Ragas said a reason for the national government’s pushing for passage of the RH Bill is because of the Philippines’ commitment to the United Nation’s Mid-Development Goals (MDG) seeking to decrease maternal mortality rate which the country has one of the highest in Asia. –PHOEBE JEN INDINO, Manila Bulletin