The Philippines Senate and House of Representatives have passed a Reproductive Health Bill by signficant margins. Bills of this kind have been proposed repeatedly over the past 13 years and have always been highly controversial because of oppostiion from those opposed to contraception and other contentious aspects of the bills. However, it is unclear exactly what the new law will say, as the houses passed it in two different versions, and will have to compile an agreed-upon text before it can be signed into law by the president. [Modern Medicine]
Category: Contraception
Philippines medical groups urge passage of controversial bill
23 health care professional organizations representing over a quarter of a million health care workers, including the Philippine Medical Association, held a press conference at the Philippine General Hospital urging the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill. [Philippines Inquirer] The bill is strongly opposed by those opposed to provisions in the bill that require the dissemination of contraceptives.
Philippines Senate amends Reproductive Health bill
In an attempt to break a deadlock, the Philippines Senate has removed provisions of its version of the Reproductive Health bill that were thought to promote abortion and contraception. President Benigno Aquino wants the bill passed because he considers it essential to his economic development programme, but the bill remains highly controversial. [Philippine Daily Inquirer] [The Guardian]
Professors at Catholic university in Philippines support Reproductive Health bill
192 professors of the Jesuit Ateneo de Manila University from its Loyola Schools, School of Medicine and Public Health, Law School and School of Government have signed a declaration affirming support for the controversial Reproductive Health bill. The declaration states that the bill “is a vital piece of legislation that needs to be passed urgently” and asserts that the key principles of the bill are compatible with Catholic social teaching. [Declaration]
Catholic bishops in Philippines urge resistance to controversial bill
Philippines House Majority Leader Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II of Mandaluyong has announced that debates will end on the the Reproductive Health bill on 30 July, and there will be a vote in the house on August 7. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is urging Catholics to express their opposition to the bill through protests and novenas. [Philippine Daily Inquirer]