Soliman expresses support for RH Bill

MANILA, Philippines –  Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman yesterday expressed support for the Reproductive Health Bill.

“The government must help couples become responsible parents by providing them information about family planning,” she said. “We in the DSWD believe in responsible parenthood. The number of children that a couple must have depends on their decision and capability to bring up the children.”

Two bills on reproductive health are pending in Congress: Senate Bill 2378 by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and House Bill 1160 of Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon.

Soliman said the government must give couples the necessary information to help them better understand their responsibilities, as well as to make intelligent choices for their families.

The salient features of the bills are: Provision of timely, complete and accurate information and education on reproductive health to couples and individuals; access to safe, affordable and quality reproductive health care services; and   planning, implementation and dissemination of appropriate and effective reproductive health care programs at the national and local levels.

Soliman said the bills have a comprehensive and gender responsive reproductive health care program covering all stages of a woman’s life cycle and also encourages the involvement and participation of men in reproductive health, thus, balances off power relations within the home.

“We believe that women can best participate in development and nation building when an effective reproductive health care program relieves them of the burden of continuous childbearing,” she said.

“It is only when the male partners of the women are able to share childrearing responsibilities within the home that women will be able to explore what the world can offer them.” –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)