Phl seen to get more foreign grants with RH bill passage

CHIANG MAI, Thailand – The Philippines will be able to get more foreign grants for women’s rights and reproductive health programs once it enacts into law the controversial Reproductive Health bill, an official of the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) said yesterday.

AFPPD executive director Shiv Khare said the passage of RH bill into law could remove existing legal barriers and motivate more foreign aid agencies to fund such projects.

“If you are able to pass this Reproductive Health bill, I’m sure that large number of agencies will also support you with contraceptives and related services.

I’m sure that the ministry of health (Department of Health) will allocate more funds (for reproductive health program) and foreign aid definitely will come in this sector,” Khare told The STAR on the sidelines of the 2011 Regional Parliamentarians’ Consultation on Emerging Economies and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights here.

Legislators from England, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam attended the two-day consultation meeting being held at the Le Meridien Hotel.

The delegates from the Philippines included representatives Bernadette Cruz Herrera-Dy (Bagong Henerasyon party-list), Raymond Mendoza (Trade Union Congress Party), Josephine Veronique Lacson-Noel (Malabon City), Ana Cristina Go (2nd District, Isabela), Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao), and Ramon San Pascual, executive director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD).

Herrera-Dy, Mendoza, Lacson-Noel, Go and Baguilat are co-authors of the RH bill.

PLCPD is a member of the AFPPD, which is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Khare said he believes the RH bill is not limited to the use of contraceptives but it will promote women’s health in general.

He also praised President Aquino for including the bill in his list of priority measures.

“I think it’s a very big step after 15 years… I am supporting the PLCPD and we hope that something will happen soon,” Khare said.

The RH bill is now on second reading in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Khare said the meeting also aims to promote the “South-South Cooperation” among countries in Asia.

“The potential of emerging donors must be fully explored,” he said.

Emerging donors include countries whose economies have experienced significant growth in the last few decades such as India, Brazil, China, South Africa and Thailand, among others.

He said the current economic situation of Europe and United States could affect their funding assistance to developing countries such as the Philippines.

“Now European countries are reducing (foreign assistance) because of their economic situation, the Americans are also reducing (their assistance to developing countries) so we have like India which has more money, they can help the Philippines,” Khare said.

‘Don’t be pressured’

While advantages of the passage of the RH bill are being cited by some sectors, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said President Aquino should not be pressured by foreign powers that are pushing for the passage and implementation of the bill.

A day before the commemoration of the 28th death anniversary of Aquino’s father, former senator Benigno Aquino Jr., CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) vice chairman Lipa, Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles called on the President to live up to the heroism displayed by his parents and not bow to foreign pressure.

Aquino’s father and mother, former President Corazon Aquino, are well remembered by Filipinos because of their valuable contribution to restoring democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, Malacañang brushed aside yesterday the claim of Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo that President Aquino was favoring “multinational condom makers” when he included the responsible parenthood bill in the list of priority measures during the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council meeting last Tuesday. – With Evelyn Macairan, Aurea Calica