'Majority of Pinoys back RH Bill'

CEBU, Philippines - Several groups which composed the Catholics for Reproductive Health (C4RH) held their national teleconference in major cities of Manila, Baguio, Davao and Cebu to show that majority of Filipino Catholics are clamoring for RH services contrary to the claim of the Church hierarchy.

In Cebu, around 400 multi-sectoral leaders gathered at Mariner’s Court in Pier 1, Cebu City watching and listening through a live streaming of speakers in Manila in the morning and local speakers in the afternoon.

The conference ended with the signing of manifesto of support to the controversial RH Bill now under debate at the plenary of the House of Representatives.

“Isip Katoliko, kami nagatuo nga ang pagpasar sa RH Bill makaluwas sa mga kinabuhi sa mga nag-atubang sa hulga ug pagtakboy sa inpeksiyon sa sistema sa reproduksiyon, mga sakit ug komplikasyon niini,” the manifesto written in dialect says.

The Cebu Consortium for Gender, Health and Development composed of women, mothers, men, health workers, members and lay people of different religious and ecumenical congregations also issued a statement.

“Cognizant of our moral and social responsibility to uphold and promote the interest and welfare of the Filipino people in the midst of these difficult times, we, coming from different sectors of our society, issue this statement to voice our stand on the reproductive health bill in Congress,” it said.

One of the speakers, Gabriella Women’s Partylist Rep. Emmie de Jesus, reported to the C4RH in Cebu that just last Tuesday, they, the authors of RH Bill submitted at least five amendments to their proposal.

The family planning programs states that local government units help “implement this Act” instead of “give priority to family planning work.”

Each congressman is no longer obliged to purchase the Mobile Health Care Service when it is proposed that the procurement and operation of which shall be funded by the national government.

Instead of providing concerned parents with adequate and relevant scientific materials on the age-appropriate topics and manner of teaching RH education to their children, it is proposed that parents shall exercise the option of not allowing their minor children to attend classes pertaining to RH and sexuality education. (FREEMAN)