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Date Posted: 20:57:28 08/02/12 Thu
Author: IMRD
Subject: August 3, 2012 news

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=834132&publicationSubCategoryId=64

P-Noy can sway RH showdown
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) Updated August 03, 2012 12:00 AM Comments (2)




Reflecting how divided Congress is, the top leaders of the House of Reps are split 8-9-1 over the Reproductive Health bill. But whether for or against the controversial measure, they agree that the 286 members have debated it enough. On Tuesday they will end all deliberations.
House rules provide for at least four discourses for and three against any proposed law. House Bill 4244, which reconciles several earlier versions and revisions, underwent five times that over the past 15 months. Counting all the earlier attempts to enact bills on responsible parenthood and family planning, the matter has been deliberated for the past 17 years. As a pro-RH congresswoman says, if the bill were female, it would have reached reproductive age and borne a child by this time. Attendance strictly will be enforced Tuesday to ensure a quorum. A viva voce vote will be held to conclude the interpellations. After which, the 286 members will vote for or against the bill itself. Members might be allowed to explain their choice.
The pros and antis expect about 20 or so members to abstain. Yet to be seen is how the 266 or so others will vote. Both sides admit it will be tight.
For months the pros have been begging for a vote once and for all. They believe they have gathered the numbers; more so since President Noynoy Aquino has declared support. They are asking him to help them again this weekend, by investing his high popularity to get the bill past the crucial second reading. Will he relent in the face of Catholic bishops’ declaration of an all-out war against his admin?
The bishops have been moving in the dioceses, organizing lobbies to convince lawmakers to junk the bill. Supposedly they have gathered the commitments of 140 members to defeat the bill. Latest to support them are ex-President, now Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Arroyo, and seven cohorts from the minority. Pundits read in it a political quid pro quo: the Arroyo bloc’s contra to the RH bill, in exchange for the bishops’ contra to her indictment for no-bail plunder and electoral fraud.
* * *
If passed, H.B. 244 would become “The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development Act of 2011.” It would lay down a comprehensive policy for the three concerns.
“Responsible parenthood” refers to the duty and ability of parents to provide for the health needs and desires of family and children. “Reproductive health” is complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely absence of disease or infirmity, relating to reproduction. “Population and development” mean to: (1) help couples and parents achieve desired family size; (2) improve reproductive health of individuals; (3) decrease maternal and infant mortality rates and early child mortality; (4) reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy; and (5) recognize the link between population and sustainable human development.
Basically a health measure, the RH bill aims to improve maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition, and reduce maternal, infant and child mortality. About 500,000 women worldwide die each year of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. In the Philippines 11 mothers die daily.
Local governments, aided by the Department of Health, shall employ an adequate number of midwives for a minimum ratio of one fulltime skilled birth attendant for every 150 deliveries per year.
Each province and city shall establish or upgrade hospitals with adequate and qualified personnel, equipment and supplies to be able to provide emergency obstetric care. For every 500,000 population, there shall be at least one hospital with comprehensive emergency obstetric care, and four hospitals or other health facilities with basic emergency obstetric care.
Local governments shall ensure a Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health. This shall include maternal and neonatal health care kits and services as defined by the DOH. MISP shall become part of all national agency responses to crises and emergencies. Temporary facilities such as evacuation centers and refugee camps shall be equipped to respond to: normal and complicated deliveries, pregnancy complications, miscarriage and post-abortion complications, spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs, and sexual and gender-based violence.
Citizens shall have access to a full range of methods, facilities, services and supplies that contribute to reproductive health. This includes sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal relations. Also: (1) family planning information and services; (2) maternal, infant and child health and nutrition, including breastfeeding; (3) proscription of abortion and management of abortion complications; (4) adolescent and youth reproductive health; (5) prevention and management of reproductive tract infections, HIV and AIDS, and other sexually transmittable infections; (6) elimination of violence against women; (7) education and counseling on sexuality and RH; (8) treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers, and other gynecological conditions and disorders; (9) male responsibility and participation in RH; (10) prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction; (11) RH education for adolescents; and (12) mental health aspects of RH care.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/commentary/item/2374-the-rh-bill

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The RH bill
• Written by Armida Siguion- Reyna
• Friday, 03 August 2012 00:00
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With the debate on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill perhaps ending on Aug. 7 in the Lower House, the men of daklot, yes, pun intended, are calling on “all the faithful to stand up and express their opposition” to it by attending the “Prayer Power Rally against the RH Bill” at the Edsa Shrine tomorrow.
The Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (ECFL) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) word their invite on their websites and blogs stopping short of saying that if you’re not with them, you’re not one of the faithful, and you’re not one of the faithful the way they define faith, then you don’t believe in God.
ECFL chairman Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes says, “this is a moral issue and therefore this event will not be a political rally but a prayer rally focused on praying for the non-passage of the (RH bill).”
Teka muna.
‘Eto naman pala and the CBCP is capable of taking a position on a moral issue, where did it stand on the stealing of the people’s vote in 2004? What did it say about the extra-judicial killings in the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo — 104 journalists murdered, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP); 1,190 activists from January 2001 to March 2010, 205 enforced disappearances and 1,028 torture victims, not to mention the hundreds of thousands displaced by military operations as tallied by human rights group Karapatan — and exactly whom did the CBCP point an accusing finger at, in the aftermath of the heinous massacre masterminded by Arroyo’s allies, the Ampatuans?
The JocJoc Bolante fertilizer scam cost the country P728 million, the construction of the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard P600 million, and the Mega Pacific deal P500 million. These three hao siao’s took place in 2004, P1.828 billion total, did the CBCP at least comment?
On top of the mass at the Shrine this Saturday, Reyes also asks “for the daily recitation of the Angelus at 6 p.m. in every home and parish during these days leading up to next week’s crucial vote.”
CBCP President Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma adds the prayer rally is “a demonstration of our sentiments and our advocacy for life” and that they’re to “show that what we believe in is for the common good.”
Siya, sige.
Except how to call “common good” the CBCP’s policy of dedma with regard to GMA is a problem. A very big problem.
Ipinagkait ng Simbahang Katoliko sa taong bayan ang paggamit ng Edsa Shrine at the height of the anti-GMA protests to do with “Hello Garci,” the NBN-ZTE deal and the protests against the Gloria-inspired Cha-cha, when an Edsa presence arguably could have mattered. Now they’re telling me they’re after “the common good”?
Neknek nilang lahat.
The CBCP has chosen to be on GMA’s side one time too many, regardless of the number of times she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Then, and now. Look at the congressmen who are slowly withdrawing support from the RH bill, sinuhin n’yo sila. Aren’t they mostly Arroyo allies?
Which is why I really loved the following letter, which I’m reproducing here in full, to help get the widest possible readership.
“Dear Hon. Anthony Golez, After over a decade of delays, the RH Bill is finally up for voting to end interpellations this Aug. 7. I am aware of your staunch opposition to the bill. Given your religious background, this is not at all surprising. At this time, all arguments for and against the bill have already been exhausted and any intellectually honest person would have already supported the RH bill by now.
“Because of your continued opposition, I am resigned to your unwavering objection to a bill that would save thousands of people from death and millions from inhumane conditions — people with interests you disregard solely due to your personal religious convictions. I will not try to convince you to support the bill. However, your convictions, I must stress, are not shared by the constituency you were elected to represent. Your constituency, by and large, is more concerned about the suffering and abject poverty forced upon them by your personal denial of their right to family planning choices.
“As your constituent in Bacolod City and as a citizen who pays for your wages in taxes, I urge you to at least be present when the RH bill comes to a vote for the end of interpellations on Aug. 7. This is your duty as a public official. Hardworking taxpayers pay you and expect you to do your job and report for work. This is the bare minimum any employer expects from their employees. You are a representative of the city — not of your Church and not of your personal interests.
“If you still believe that the RH Bill should be defeated, then defeat it by democratic means and vote against it. But, please, refrain from further participating in the decade-long delaying tactics. Be present at your job on Aug. 7. You owe your attendance to every citizen of Bacolod City.
“Your boss, Peque Gallaga, director, Negrosanon and Filipino.”
Take a bow, Peque, take a bow.
Meanwhile, the discussion continues on Facebook and all other blogs. Here are samples of comments onn a family member’s status: composer Joel Navarro is all for it, “and it’s not just because I’m not Catholic, but because it is a state issue, a matter of human rights. Let those who oppose it vote against it as an expression of their faith. But their faith can’t speak for those who think differently, whether they may be of a different faith, or of non-faith.”
Arlene Sebastian, “I am for the RH Bill... naniniwala ako na ang Pinoy may utak at kalayaang magdesisyon ayon sa nararapat.” Nini Gaviola announces “I am a Catholic and I am pro-RH bill! Guys, maybe if everyone posts this as their status, our senators and congressmen will listen… the middle class made its decision a long time ago. That’s why middle class couples usually just have two or three children. Kawawa naman ang mga mahihirap na lalong humihirap dahil sa dami ng anak. Pass the RH bill na!”
For movie critic, columnist and staunch Catholic Mario Bautista — I emphasize staunch — “I am definitely for it. In the outreach programs we conducted in depressed communities, we see a family of 7 to 10 people living in small shanties, multiplying like rabbits without thinking of how they’ll sustain their kids and send them to school or give them a good future. Those who have college education are the ones cautious in having big families because they’re conscious of their responsibilities. The poor uneducated ones just breed and breed and their kids turn out to be delinquents who become future problems of society.”
What about you? What side are you on?

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