RH Bill gaining ground in Bohol?

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  — While the Catholic Church is opposing the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, now pending in the Lower House, several non-government organizations and public officials in Bohol have openly voiced out their support for its enactment.

This surfaced during the public policy forum held at a hotel in this city last June 15, attended by Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmi Amaya de Jesus who is one of the main proponents of the bill.

Among those who announced their support of the RH Bill are provincial health officer Reymoses Cabagnot, Ubay town Mayor Eutiquio Bernales, Pastor Elpidio Samputon, president of Ubay Christian Ministry Association, and Maria Ira Pamat, executive director of Women’s Development Center.

Before the culmination of the forum, a pledging of commitment for support to get the bill passed in Congress was done with the ceremonial pinning of purple ribbon, symbolizing their being pro-life, led by executive director Dr. Eden Divinagracia of the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare, Inc. (PNGOC). 

Totsie Escobia of the Effective Development Communication (EDCOM) of the governor’s office emceed the forum, which was also co-organized by the Philippine Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) Foundation, the Forum for Family Planning and Development (FORUM), Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) and the Population Commission.

“It aims to gather local NGOs, media. LGUs, local health workers, civic organizations, government agencies and other stakeholders to raise their understanding and appreciation on HB 4244 and in the process generate support to the proposed national population policy,” the organizers said.

Proponents argued that the bill is needed to enable couples exercise their RH rights via informed choice; to ensure maternal, infant and child health; to prevent abortion and prevent unwanted pregnancy and to prevent young adults to suffer consequences of early pregnancy.

De Jesus said the proposed HB 4244—is a matter of life and death and is not intended, and neither it promises, to reduce or eradicate poverty or population, contrary to the belief of the opposition.

The congresswoman said that Section 3 of the bill provides for freedom of choice and the promotion of rights and welfare of couples, adolescents and women. It also makes abortion illegal and punishable. “Gov’t shall ensure all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counselled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner,” she said.

The HB bill also provides access to family planning both artificial and natural as it provides that parents shall exercise the option of not allowing their minor children to attend classes pertaining to RH and sexuality education. It further deleted the provision of a two-child policy and employer’s responsibility.

Regina Estorba-Macalandag, of the Asia Center for Sustainable Futures, said RH bill advances freedom of choice. “We see RH not only as a personal issue but a social issue that translates into a state well-being and health for all,” she said, agreeing with De Jesus that the bill “is neither a population control nor an anti-poverty measure but security of life that highlights health and the sustainability of our futures.”

UNFPA cited a Social Weather Station survey showing 71 percent of Filipinos “expressed support for the RH Bill, while only 8 percent were against it.” Over 90 percent of the respondents were Catholics, which means that “it is about time that the true voices of Catholics are heard,” said the group.

Bohol Provincial Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, health committee chair, told the forum that his panel has been conducting public consultations the past years on the provincial version of the RH bill, which pushes for responsible parenthood policy and reproductive health care that “values human dignity and offers full and equitable protection to women, children, men, young people and families.”  (FREEMAN)