Lacson backs Aquino in pushing for RP bill

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday threw his support behind President Benigno Aquino III in pushing for the passage of the controversial Responsible Parenthood (RP) bill, saying it is a "sensible" approach to alleviating poverty. "Finding ways to curb our monstrous population growth rate, which has been a major part of our poverty problem, is one sensible approach in poverty alleviation. Advocating population management is not being anti-life. In fact, it is pro-country and pro-people," Lacson said in a statement. The RP bill, however, faces stiff opposition from the Catholic Church because of its provisions allowing the use of artificial means of contraception. Catholic Church officials, who favor only natural means of family planning, had even called for the junking of the RP bill and the Reproductive Health bill. But Aquino, in his speech at the University of the Philippines’ 100th Commencement Exercises, said he is willing to risk excommunication from the Catholic Church in pushing for the passage of the RP bill. Aquino explained during his speech that he cannot stand by and watch the cycle of poverty continue amid unplanned births. Lacson agreed that "maintained" population management is urgent because most poor Filipinos do not have access to basic services. "There is not enough food on the table, many are homeless, the poor have almost zero opportunity to have access to education, health care and the most basic social services, which they can otherwise enjoy with an efficient but moral population management program," he said. He noted, however, that he is not pushing for abortion, which he said is a crime and has "no place" in the RP bill. "Any form of abortion should be condemned and punished. That much is clear," he said. During the 14th Congress, Lacson filed Senate Bill 43 which encourages reproductive health and population management. In the 15th Congress, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed SB2378 or “An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development." It is pending before the Senate health committee. Under SB 2378, 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. At the House of Representatives, the controversial RH bill is being discussed in the plenary and awaiting approval on second reading. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News