CEBUCITY, August 10, 2011—The Cebu Provincial Board unanimously passed on
August 8 a resolution opposing the Reproductive Health (RH) bill pending
in Congress after being briefed on the pros and cons of the
controversial piece of legislation.
The resolution was introduced by Board Member Sergio Restauro,
chairman of the Provincial Board (PB) Committee on Health, but
co-sponsored by all members on a 16-0 vote.
The PB action supported the stand of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia
and the nine Cebuano solons who are against the proposed bill.
Restauro cited economic, health and legal perspectives in explaining
why there is neither wisdom in nor legal support for the RH bill.
He said the government will be spending billions of pesos through the
years in procuring condoms and other contraceptives instead of
allocating the money for more essential and suitable projects, such as
housing, medicines and education, if such measure were to be enacted
into law.
A five percent failure rate means that five percent of the couples
using a particular contraceptive method will be pregnant at the end of
the year, Restauro said.
He added that birth control drugs and devices also give a false sense
of security, leading to risky sexual behavior and thereby resulting in
more unplanned pregnancies and, inadvertently, more abortions.
Restauro explained that improved access to basic health care,
nutrition, medicines and technology—not contraceptives—are the key to
reducing and eliminating maternal mortality and morbidity.
The bill will result in the death of thousands of Filipino babies
from abortifacient contraceptives and pave the way for the acceptance of
other methods of abortion, he added.
“The RH Bill contains provisions which are contrary to the teachings
of the Church on faith and morals and even of pertinent provisions of
the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” he pointed out.
Restauro also cited that the measure violates most of the Ten Commandments because it promotes greed and lust.
The PB earlier invited speakers who explained to the members both sides of the issue before coming out with an official stand.
Two weeks ago, during its regular session, the Board invited two
speakers to present opposing views on the controversial bill. The group
Catholics 4RH, which also filled the session gallery with its
supporters, presented its views.
On the anti-RH side, the sole presentor was Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer,
Country Director of Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas, who made a
thorough discussion especially on the history of the RH bill, the
population control agenda, and the untold evils of the legislative
measure. (John Luke Evangelista)
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