DSWD Chief backs Reproductive Health Bill; Velarde against

DSWD chief backs reproductive health bill; Velarde against

By LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO and JENNY F. MANONGDO

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral yesterday aired support for the reproductive health bill, saying that the people should have an informed choice on family planning.

"I am pro-natural family planning but also prochoice in which case we should be able to give information to all families and access to services so that they can make intelligent choice for their families," Cabral said.

Although Catholic Church leaders have remained strong on their stance against the bill, supporters of the consolidated reproductive health bill have become more aggressive in pushing the measure.

They emphasized the need for religious leaders and reproductive health advocates to convene on the merits of the bill and give the couples an informed choice on family planning.

Members of the Reproductive Health Alliance Network (RHAN) said the bill will allow the people to exercise their democratic rights in planning for their desired family size.

Cabral said the DSWD has presented a position paper to Congress and to the Commission on Population (PopCom) regarding their position on the controversial bill.
She said even the DSWD-attached agency, the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) supports the reproductive health bill.

Cabral said she is firm in supporting the bill though it is not in line with the President’s stand.

"Lahat naman tayo ay may freedom of speech at kung tayo ay magkakaroon ng clash na irreconcilable, alam na natin kung ano dapat nating gawin. Kung sino ang nag-appoint sya ang may karapatan na magtanggal sa trabaho. So lahat kami ay ever ready kung ano man."

Meanwhile, El Shaddai leader Bro. Mariano "Mike" Velarde is mobilizing its members against the reproductive health and population management bill in Congress.
"We will (mobilize our members). Sapagkat para ma-realize ng taong bayan na we are being deceived by these people," Velarde said. Several El Shaddai members are set to attend Friday’s Prayer Rally for Life organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in España, Manila.
Velarde said instead of pushing people to use artificial means of family planning, the government should just let the people decide on how they should plan their own families.

"Ang tanong ko nga diyan ay bakit niyo pinipilit na itulak ang mga pills na yan na gamitin ng tao at the expense of the government tax money? E di hayaan yung gustong gumamit niyan. Free choice tayo di ba? Ang choice ng tao ay hindi pwedeng i-legislate," said Velarde. He said he would rather let lawmakers promote and educate the public on the proper use of resources and family planning."I-educate natin ang tao tungkol diyan at turuan natin itong ating taong bayan na gamitin ang kanilang natural talent and resources… yan ang ating pagka-abalahan hindi yung pagtutulak ng mga drogang ito na para matigil ang pagdami ng population," Velarde said.