Cebu residents are pro-Reproductive Health (RH), unlike what the Roman Catholic Church wants to convey.
This was the message of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN)-Cebu chapter as they are into the intensification of the tri-media campaign about the importance of the passage the controversial bill.
In a statement sent to this reporter, Ms. Judy Aguilar of the newly created RHAN-Cebu said, that the creation of RHAN-Cebu is one step to the strengthening of the RH bill passage campaign in the province, despite the fact that it is the bulwark of the Roman Catholic faith.
In addition to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the Manila, the Archdiocese of Cebu, being one of the oldest dioceses in the country, is strongly campaigning for the scrapping of the bill authored by Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman Sr.
The bill was sponsored by progressive party-lists Bayan Muna (People First), Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) and Gabriela Women’s Party.
“We have RHAN-CEBU because we see the urgency in passing the reproductive health bill. We believe passage of this bill will ensure that maternal and child health care will improve, unwanted pregnancies and abortions will be prevented,” Aguilar said.
She furthered, the passing of the bill is crucial since Cebu has the record of the highest number of abortion cases, especially among married women.
“We believe that a comprehensive national law that will ensure reproductive health education and services, will help reduce if not eliminate abortions,” explained Aguilar.
On the other hand, Elizabeth Angsioco, secretary-general of RHAN national office, welcomes this development, saying that Cebu is a critical area for the national campaign on reproductive health and the creation of the RHAN-Cebu is a welcome development that truly supports a nationwide clamor for the passage of reproductive health bill.
Meanwhile, in Manila, Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD), lauds RHAN-Cebu for standing bravely despite the strong opposition shown by Catholic hierarchy.
“We are glad that people are already taking up the cudgels to show legislators the public clamor for a reproductive health.” San Pascual said. (Noel Sales Barcelona/Philippines Today)