QC Council defends proposed population management policy

The majority leader of the Quezon City Council denounced yesterday an alleged disinformation campaign launched by the Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco against a proposed ordinance on population and reproductive health management.

Council Majority Leader Ariel Inton said a provision mandating sex education for students, as indicated in the proposed ordinance, will focus on reproductive education and not on the sexual aspect, contrary to statements issued by Ongtioco.

”I would prefer that my child get sex education in school with professional teachers rather than learning it on the streets as what the critics of the ordinance are trying to point out,” he said.

Inton said Ongtioco’s campaign, directed at the authors of the proposed measure, is premature since the ordinance is due for deliberation by the city’s legislative body.

Ongtioco’s spokesman, Fr. Aries Sison, said Church officials are campaigning against the proposal during Mass and Councilor Joseph Juico would understand the Catholic Church’s opposition to his “anti-life” ordinance “if he belongs to a family that is staunchly Catholic and was brought up well.”

“If only he sought our guidance and attended Masses regularly, then this would not have happened,” Sison added.

Inton, however, called on Church officials to participate in public hearings on the proposed measure to voice their objection to it.

“The Quezon City Council will not allow the passage of any bill that promotes abortion and other illegal means or any anti-Christian provisions. There is no need to exorcise our members,” Inton told The STAR in an interview.

Inton pointed out that every councilor has the right to file any proposal as part of the democratic process that must be respected and not taken against the person.

He said Juico’s proposed ordinance seeks to answer the population explosion in the city and every sector is welcome to air their input on the measure. – Perseus Echeminada