Priest joins reproductive health challenges forum

For the very first time, a priest will be attending and participating in a gathering organized by reproductive health advocates. Fr. Roderick Salazar, president of the University of San Carlos, will talk on Reproductive Health Challenges to the Academe and Society during a three-day Visayas-wide meet of around 50 local officials from Regions 6, 7 and 8 as well as media outfits set to converge here today. The forum is entitled "LGU and media partnership for Good Governance: Addressing the Gaps and Confronting Challenges on Population, Development and Reproductive Health."

Maria Ester Espina, president of Media Advocates for Reproductive Health, said this is the first time that a priest is attending and participating in such a gathering. Reproductive health advocates organized the gathering. The Catholic Church has been very vocal against the government's reproductive health program, which it considers as "anti-life".

Topics include participatory gender responsive governance, impact of population and health in the environment, domestic violence, and women empowerment.

Rep. Edcel Lagman, author of House Bill 3773, will also be around to speak on the Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act of 2005. - Ferliza C. Contratista