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Workers group pickets Senate, asks for passage of RH bill


On Valentine's Day, around 50 members of the group Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) trooped to the Senate to ask for the immediate passage the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill. "Kumakatok ang Partido ng Manggagawa sa puso ng ating mag mambabatas na sana ipasa na ang RH bill... magiging happy lang ang Valentine's ng ating mga kababaihan kung maipapasa ang RH bill," PM secretary general Judy Ann Miranda told GMA News. (We are appealing to the kind hearts of our lawmakers, please pass the RH bill...the women's sector will only be happy on Valentine's if they do.) Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's Senate Bill No.2378 or “An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development" is pending before the Senate health committee. Under this bill, the state shall guarantee universal access to medically safe, legal, affordable, and quality reproductive health services, methods, devices, supplies, and relevant information on the matter. In the House of Representatives, at least six bills related to the reproductive health issue are also pending. The Catholic Church, however, has consistently opposed the use and state provision of artificial birth control methods like condoms and birth control pills, saying it only supports natural family planning methods for married couples. Miranda, for her part, said that the Church is not their spokesperson. "Hindi po simbahan ang magliligtas sa amin, ang magliligtas sa amin ay ang pagkakaroon ng programa at pondo para sa aming kalusugan (It is not the Church that will save us, but programs and funding for our health)," she said. She likewise explained that around 11 women die from pregnancy and birth delivery complications alone. "Don't we want an end to this confirmed 'daily slaughter' of women?" she said. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda had earlier announced that the RH bill will not be among the 17 bills which will be presented to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting on February 28. Miranda said they will express their "frustration and disappointment" for Aquino through a massive protest on March 8, which is also the International Women's Day. - VVP, GMA News

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