MANILA: The Philippines’ Congress passed yesterday a bill on promoting state-funded contraceptive, underscoring President Benigno Aquino’s influence on the legislature and his defiance of Roman Catholic bishops opposed to the measure.
The legislature’s two chambers, dominated by Aquino’s allies, approved by solid margins on third and final reading the reproductive health bill two days before lawmakers adjourn for Christmas holidays. Aquino had certified it as an urgent measure.
The legislation requires governments down to village level to provide free or low-cost reproductive health services. The law will not promote abortion, which is illegal.
“It’s a gift to my constituents,” said Janette Garin, one of the bill’s principal authors.
The passage of the measure ended about 13 years of debate on the contraceptive measure, seen by proponents as a human rights issue but opposed by Catholic bishops on moral grounds.
Aquino is expected to sign the bill into law by the end of the year after the two chambers iron out differences in their two versions.
Social networking sites Twitter and Facebook were full of praise for senators and congressmen. A church-operated radio called on the faithful for prayers.
“What the church will do is to continue instructing our people, telling them the evils of contraceptives,” said Bishop Gabriel Reyes, who watched the debate from the Congress gallery.
“They should not accept it because contraceptives are not pro-poor. It’s not pro-children or pro-family. It is harmful against women, children and family.”
Reuters
