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http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=523776&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25

Via Reuters

 

http://womensenews.org/story/cheers-and-jeers/120810/filipino-prez-oks-birth-control-olympians-dissed

THE PHILIPPINES - PRESIDENT SUPPORTS 

HEALTH BILL/STATE-FUNDED CONTRACEPTION

 

Philippine President Benigno Aquino yesterday successfully threw his weight behind a health bill promoting state-funded contraception, stepping out of his mother’s shadow as he pushes reforms widely opposed by the Roman Catholic Church.


Aquino’s late mother, Corazon, a pillar of democracy in the
Philippines, was put in power in 1986 in a popular revolt strongly supported by the Church.
The
Philippines, with a rapidly growing population of around 95mn, is the only predominantly Catholic country in the region apart from East Timor.


Benigno Aquino addressed a multi-party group of at least 180 lawmakers at the presidential palace, saying debates that have delayed the reform over the last 17 months needed to end.


Lawmakers agreed and said they would move on to discussing content.
“This is not a morality issue, this is a social issue that is closer to the hearts of most ordinary Filipinos,” Earl Parreno of the
Institute of Political and Electoral Reforms, said.


“I don’t see any risk for the president. I think this will even push his popularity higher.”


Discussions will centre on four issues - state funding for contraceptives, mandatory sex education in schools, abortion, and the distribution of contraceptives that could induce abortions.


The bill, as it stands, requires governments down to the village level to provide free or low-cost reproductive health services. The law will not promote abortion, which is illegal.


In his state of the nation address last month, Aquino stressed his government could not end decades of shortages in accommodation and books in schools without responsible parenthood.


That statement was Aquino’s strongest message yet on controlling population growth estimated at around 2% annually, part of his poll campaign programme in 2010.


Aquino’s allies in the lower house of Congress assured him of the passage of the bill within the month. Analysts say Aquino also has enough allies in the upper house to push the bill through.


Opponents of the bill, led by the bishops, warned they would campaign against the re-election in 2013 of lawmakers who supported it.


On Saturday, at least 7,000 people braved moonsoon rains to attend a rally organised by the bishops, but the crowds were much smaller than church leaders’ earlier estimate of 50,000.


 Philippine legislators voted to terminate heated debates on a controversial birth control law after President Benigno Aquino urged its speedy passage.
A “voice vote” at the 285-member House of Representatives ended further debates on the bill which has polarised the largely Catholic nation of almost 100mn.


Congressman Edcel Lagman, the main proponent of the bill, said the loud, vocal support for accelerating its passage was a “positive indication” that it would be passed by the House this month.


“We are at the threshold of victory but we are not yet at our victory because we will have to wait for final voting,” he said.


Earlier Aquino met with leaders of the House and expressed his desire to see the law passed, his spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.


“The president echoed the view that the responsible parenthood measure had been discussed thoroughly over the past several years and expressed his desire that Congress move on to the next step in the legislative process,” he said.


In the past opponents of the bill used lengthy debates and long-winded speeches to delay its passage until Congress adjourned, effectively preventing it from being passed.


The church, whose opinion on key issues helps to shape public opinion, led thousands in a rally on Saturday to call on congressmen to junk the bill.
Lagman said that the next legislative process would be to open the bill for amendment ahead of its passage.


The Senate, or the upper chamber of congress, needs to separately pass the bill before it can effectively become law, and some of its leaders have openly said they would reject it.


Yesterday, over 100 activists favouring the bill held a peaceful rally outside congress to press for its passage.


Women’s groups as well as the UN have been pushing for the law to be passed, saying it would help to bring down the maternal mortality rate in the
Philippines, which is one of the highest in the region. Reuters