DOH sees Church as ally in RH implementation: bishops eye SC, other forums

December 14, 2012 4:29am

Should the Reproductive Health bill eventually become law, the Department of Health is confident the Catholic Church will become its ally in providing a better quality of life for Filipinos.

In a statement, the DOH reiterated the controversial bill is "not about limiting population but more on being able to provide the best for the family."

"Let not this Reproductive Health Bill divide us but more so unite us for better health for all," it added.

Earlier Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the bill on second reading with a vote of 113 to 104.

The House is expected to vote on the bill on third reading this coming Monday.

The Catholic Church has been against the RH bill because of the proposed measure's provisions allowing for artificial contraception. The Church favors natural family planning.

On the other hand, the DOH said the RH bill, once passed, will be a landmark law that will empower women of reproductive age to have informed choices on their reproductive health.

"Likewise, their partners will also play a significant role as decision making requires the consent of both parties to determine their number of children and when they want to have," it said.

It also cited recent survey results showing majority of women are for the passage of the RH Bill, "in order to provide them equal access to health care and information."

Hoping for non-passage

Meanwhile, Catholic bishops remain hopeful the measure will be rejected in its third and final reading.

Bishops also hinted at possibly taking the issue to other forums, including questioning the measure before the Supreme Court.

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that while Malacañang and its allies may have scored in the second reading, the final passage remains to be seen.

“Like in the sport of boxing, there was a knockdown but not yet a knockout,” Cruz said.

“Hope is something that we should have because in despair we always lose. We are always hopeful that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” he added.

Retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. added the passage on second reading has prompted the Church to exert even more effort in campaigning against it.

“We will see who gets the knockout punch. This has awakened a new consciousness in our people,” Bacani said.

Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros added the fight "is not yet over.”

“We will also continue the fight in other fora: the Supreme Court and in the level of individual conscience,” he said.

“The fight for life will never be over. We are fighting for the unborn, for the women and for our future as a nation,” added Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

Meanwhile, Cruz urged the more than 60 lawmakers who were absent during Wednesday night’s session to attend the final voting of the RH bill.

“Playing safe is not the way of the courageous,” he said. — DVM, GMA News