Lawmakers urged not to pass on RH Bill to next Congress

MANILA, Philippines – Palace officials made a fresh call on lawmakers not to further delay the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill.

“As President [Aquino has] said, regardless of [the lawmakers’] belief, [they should] end period of debates. They should not pass this [on] to next Congress,” Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said in an ambush interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday, September 9.

Earlier on radio dzRB, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte also said it is now up to the legislative branch to introduce amendments that concerned sectors find acceptable.

“They are now in the period of amendments. It’s really now up to the legislators,” Valte said.

After Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III delivered his “turno en contra” speech, the controversial bill finally moved to the period of amendments in the Senate.

On September 5, the measure’s principal sponsor, Senator Pia Cayetano, began introducing committee amendments. Afterwhich the senators will introduce their respective amendments.

‘Responsible parenthood’

Among the amendments which Cayetano introduced was the inclusion of the term “Responsible Parenthood” in the title of the bill.

The measure now reads, “An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood.”

President Benigno Aquino III had already articulated his position about responsible parenthood, Valte said, adding that any compromise will have to depend on the legislators.

According to legislators who earlier met with the President in Malacanang, Aquino left it to Congress to discuss appropriation for contraceptives and other controversial issues during the period of amendments.

They said that the President was only emphatic about educating couples on responsible parenthood.

Watered down?

Valte said President Aquino has remained consistent on his stand in the RH issue.

“He is against abortion, [and] that you leave the decision [on the method of family planning to use] to the parents but they should be provided enough information to help and support them in their choices…And we do not favor one method over the other,” Valte said.

Meanwhile. presidential legislative liaison officer Manuel Mamba was quoted as saying the Palace was agreeable to “watering down” the RH bill if only to reach a compromise version, but not to the extent of scrapping provisions on the promotion and funding of contraceptives.

Valte said the House of Representatives will tap a technical working group to harmonize all views on RH proposal.

Some leaders in Congress are not optimistic the RH bill will pass because of the budget hearings. – Rappler.com