TACLOBAN CITY – Although they believe that Reproductive Health(RH) bill is not anti-life, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares said that they are open to accept comments from those who are opposing the bill, in order for them to carefully study the controveria measure.
This reaction of Colmenares was made after he had a brief dialogue with a religious group based in this city regarding their stand on RH bill.
The religious group from this city stressed that the RH bill is an anti-life bill as it promotes the use of contraceptives and the bill provides that it should be included in essential drugs.
They added that once said bill is passed, the fate of the Philippines will be the same with other countries that are implementing reproductive health law, where population is now dwindling.
Hearing this comment, Colmenares stressed that it is their firm stand that RH bill is not an anti-life bill or promoting use of contraceptives and encouraging abortion.
“I have read the bill, all its provisions and I never encounter any sentence or word that promotes abortion,” said Colmenares.
“What the RH bill is promoting is the right of every woman, to have access to health services that are due to them especially married and pregnant women,” Colmenares added.
“However if there are portions of the bill that is seen to have problems or having contradiction from beliefs of other sectors, I will be glad to hear those comments for me to study them and if possible make changes on the proposed bill,” he added.
To recall, few days before Colmenares visited the city, a forum for RH bill was conducted at the Leyte National High School Gymnasium sponsored by Purple Ribbon Campaign Coalition, a group of several organizations supporting the bill.
Said group is urging members of Congress particularly representatives in the region to support the measure and set aside politics and listen not just from one sect of religion but including other religions and what people are saying.
In the region, among representatives who have strongly voiced out their opposition to the passage of the RH bill were Leyte Representatives Lucy Torres-Gomez, Sergio Apostol and An Waray party-list Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel.
Among them, Noel became controversial after having a slight tiff with his wife who supports the RH bill being a member of “Soul Sister,” a group of female members of Congress.
However, thiir differences, according to couple, is part of their professional job as legislators and will not affect their personal life.
Noe said that his opposition to RH bill was due to his beliefs that problem of poverty and overpopulation will be address if the government will focus on addressing problems in the countryside.
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