CBCP: Cebu provincial board passes anti-RH bill resolution

The Cebu provincial board unanimously passed this week a resolution opposing the Reproductive Health (RH) bill pending in Congress. Voting 16-0, the board members approved the resolution introduced by Board Member Sergio Restauro, chairman of the Provincial Board (PB) Committee on Health. The provincial board's move supported the stand of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the nine Cebuano solons, who are all against the RH bill. Before voting on the resolution, the board members asked both pro-RH and anti-RH advocates to present their sides on the issue, the CBCP said. During its regular session two weeks ago, the group Catholics 4RH, presented its views on why they think the RH bill should be passed. On the anti-RH side, Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Country Director of Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas, cited reasons on why the RH bill should be opposed. RH bill contradicts Constitution, Church teachings According to Restauro, the RH bill "contains provisions which are contrary to the teachings of the Church on faith and morals and even of pertinent provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution." The Catholic Church is against the passage of the RH bill which promotes both artificial and natural methods of contraception. The Church accepts only natural family planning (NFP) methods. Restauro cited economic, health and legal for opposing the RH bill. If the RH bill is passed, the government will be spending billions of pesos in procuring condoms and other contraceptives instead of allocating the money for housing, medicines, and education, Restauro said. According to the CBCP, Restauro said improved access to basic health care, nutrition, medicines and technology—not contraceptives— are the key to reducing and eliminating maternal mortality and morbidity. - VVP, GMA News