Text of new RH bill must be published

CLARK FIELD — It is well and good that Malacañang has seen to the rewriting of the controversial provisions of the Reproductive Health (renamed Responsible Parenthood) bill to widen its acceptability in this dominantly Catholic nation.

President Noynoy Aquino announced the changes after the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañang the other day.

But until the full text of the revised measure is published and its redirected intent is explained, it might be early to say if it will meet the stringent requirements of the religious majority and their pastors.

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CONTENTIOUS: The President said some provisions were removed after a review found them to be too contentious and “not necessary.” It was not clear who decided which new provisions were now acceptable or not.

The details removed included provisions fixing the ideal number of children per family to only two and the changing of the appropriate age for teaching sex education to children at 11 years old or when the child is in grade six or in high school.

Other proposed amendments include giving parents the option to discuss sex with their children and giving church-based hospitals the right to distribute artificial or natural family planning methods.

“This provision will be modified so that those church-based hospitals can practice their faith in recognition of freedom of religion under Article 3 of the Constitution,” the President said.

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ABORTIFACIENT: The President and his allies in the Congress should make clear their stand on birth control drugs and devices that induce abortion.

It is risky, if not irresponsible, to simply dump on the public a pile of contraceptives and, under the guise of free choice, let the people decide for themselves what will suit their physical needs and moral upbringing.

There is evidence that many of the contraceptives that the bill seeks to buy using public funds and distribute using government facilities and personnel are abortifacient.

The Arroyo administration should be forthright in informing the public the full impact of each and every drug and method that the bill will let loose on the public. –Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star)