Group: 102 solons commit support to reproductive health bill

MANILA, Philippines - The controversial Reproductive Health bill further gained ground at the House of Representatives after more than 100 lawmakers pledged to support the population management bill, an advocacy group said on Tuesday. QTV’s Balitanghali reported that during a press conference, Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) secretary-general Elizabeth Angsioco said at least 102 lawmakers have decided to co-author the bill, despite mounting criticisms from different sectors. Angsioco said House Bill 5043 or "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development," is not merely aimed at curbing the country’s population by allowing the use of contraceptive methods, but also seeks to alleviate the escalating cases of poverty caused by unplanned pregnancies. HB 5043, which espouses mandatory age-appropriate teaching of reproductive health and the purchase of contraceptives by state hospitals, faces staunch opposition from Catholic Church groups and at least 75 lawmakers in the House. Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, principal author of the bill, had earlier called on fellow legislators to "open their minds" and "reject contrived criticisms, expose barefaced lies, refuse malicious innuendoes, and resist menacing threats." Like Lagman, Angsioco appealed to the public to become more open-minded. She also called for an extensive discussion of the bill, the report said. The Catholic Church has been strongly opposing the passage of the bill that promotes the use of artificial contraceptives, which the clergy has found to be an "abortificient" or tantamount to abortion. Earlier, senior members of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Philippines (CBCP) called on House Speaker Prospero Nograles to return the bill, which is now second reading, to the committee level. They also urged the public not to vote for candidates who would back the bill. For his part, Ozamis Archbishop Jesus Dosado said he will refuse to give communion to "anti-life" politicians would support the "anti-life" bill. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV