Lawmakers shun from RH bill
February 2, 2010 10:37 pm
By Lilybeth G. Ison
MANILA, Feb. 2 — With barely two days left before Congress adjourns session to give way for the campaign period for the May elections, Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday said the House of Representatives has no plans of tackling the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill.
"Yung RH, di na talaga namin kukunin because it's controversial (We will no longer tackle RH bill because it's controversial)," said Nograles in a press briefing.
He said the Lower Chamber would only take up non-controversial measures in the last two days of session.
House Bill 5043, or "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development," is currently up for plenary debates in the Lower House.
The bill proposes, among others, mandatory age-appropriate reproductive health education starting Grade 5 and the purchase of contraceptives by state hospitals as part of its essential medicines and supplies.
Its Senate version, Senate Bill 3122, is also up for interpellation.
The RH measure, which is promoting both natural and artificial contraceptives, has been slammed by the Catholic hierarchy, that espouses only natural family planning methods.
Catholic leaders claimed that the proliferation of artificial contraceptives would give rise to immorality and promiscuity.
Nograles said there were still 20 lawmakers who have said they would like to interpellate proponents of the controversial measure on the floor.
"We cannot accommodate that anymore in the last (two) days. Mauubos yung oras ng House (The House's time will be eaten up), we cannot pass anything anymore," he said.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros, a senatorial aspirant who is one of the bill's staunchest advocates, however, said they would not concede that the bill is dead until Congress adjourns session.
"Di namin isusuko na patay na yun hanggang huling araw ng session (We will not concede that it is dead until the last day of session)," she said in a text message.
"Malay mo, may himalang mangyari (Who knows, a miracle might take place)," she said.
Meanwhile, with regards to the proposal for an extension of Congress session by at least three weeks to act on pending priority measures, Nograles said he was open to holding special sessions after Feb. 5 if the President calls for it.
He, however, expressed doubt on whether they can still muster a quorum then.
"It might be difficult to muster a quorum when you call them back for a special session," he said, noting that many congressmen are already gearing up for the campaign season for the May 10 elections.
Nograles, who is on his last term as congressman in Davao City, is gunning for a mayoralty post in the said city.
Congress will resume session on May 31 for the canvassing of votes. (PNA)
RMA/LGI
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