Media Statement on the Recent Dialogue between the Palace and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines on Reproductive Health Bill

Being one of the leading proponents of the much maligned yet popularly accepted reproductive health bill, the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) cannot just be silent and remain in the back seat as the excitement on the issue unfold before us.


Following reports on the result of the recent second dialogue between the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the Palace, we are happy to know that the Palace has remained steadfast in its earlier position to support reproductive health despite strong lobby coming from the influential anti-RH force.


PLCPD is thankful to the President for holding on to the principles of responsible parenthood. We are glad that P-Noy did not abandon the pact he made with the Filipino people under his “Social Contract with the Filipino People.” During the elections, CBCP dumped P-Noy and made outright endorsements of his rivals, still the Filipino people voted for him, believing that he can be an agent of change.


We are equally happy that P-Noy and his cabinet, despite all the pressures, chose to make responsible parenthood/reproductive health (RP/RH) bill one of the priority bills up for certification. This is already a clear indication that P-Noy will walk his talk as far as RP/RH bill is concerned.


PLCPD stands firm that reproductive health bills pending in Congress contains the same principles that the Palace has presented after its last meeting with CBCP. Indeed, a law on reproductive health is an important component to address poverty. Again, we say, never was the reproductive health bill designed to impose population growth target.


While we remain confident that P-Noy will remain firm on his position, we strongly urge him to certify the bill as urgent, now. We do not want the Filipino people to suffer the repercussion if the enactment of the bill will be delayed for another year or for another Congress. -30- RAMON SAN PASCUAL, MPH Executive Director, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD)