The Reproductive Health Bill: January-October 2010 Timeline of Events

What the Reproductive Health Bill all about
According to the section 2 of the Reproductive Health Bill, it upholds and promotes “responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with internationally recognized human rights and human rights standards.”

It also mentions that it “guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children,among other underprivileged sectors.” (Get the full text here.)


January 2010
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued new election guidelines, then stating “Presidential survey front runner Senator Benigno Aquino is likely to lose major votes if Catholics will seriously take a call from their church leaders not to vote for candidates supporting birth control."

Those against the RH Bill believe that it is anti-life, because the said bill promotes the use of contraceptives, which the CBCP strongly opposes.

The CBCP believes that the RH Bill promotes “anti-family policies, including reproductive health, or any other moral evil such as abortion, divorce, assisted suicide and euthanasia.”


April 2010
Earlier this year, prior to the 2010 May elections, candidates took sides and aired their views regarding the Reproductive Health issue.

Those pro-RH Bill stressed that the program would help alleviate the incidence of fatality and abortion in the country, given that a sizeable number of women give up their babies each year because of unwanted pregnancy.

Those anti-RH Bill emphasized the possibility of it allowing greater influence for America to influence the Philippine government to push for abortion.


July 2010
Bishops urged Pres. Aquino to present his plan regarding family planning for his State of the Nation address (SONA).

Click here to read the rest of the 2010 RH Bill-related events.

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Read on for the rest of the 2010 RH Bill-related events.

September 2010
The CBCP proclaimed that “civil disobedience” remains an option if the government continues to push for its pro-choice agenda, which President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III himself has been trumpeting around.”

While the CBCP claimed that it is willing to work with the government for population control, they will remain firm in their stand against artificial contraceptives such as condoms and pills.

The CBCP expresses that to comply with the RH bill would be a “sin.”

Tour guide and RH Bill advocate Carlos Celdran was imprisoned but later released for interrupting an ecumenical service at the Manila Cathedral, protesting the CBCP’s “meddling in politics.”


October 2010
Pres. Aquino expresses plans of setting a dialogue with the Philippine bishops, hoping for a consensus and peaceful settlement regarding the RH issue.

Aquino also stated that the State also has the responsibility and obligation to educate its citizens on their choices, and that it cannot enforce upon any couple “how they should plan their families.”

CBCP positions that Pres. Aquino should focus on providing jobs and education for the many poor Filipinos instead of artificial contraceptives.

Pro-life advocates gather for a prayer rally surrounding Quiapo Church in Manila.

RH Bill advocates communicate to the CBCP to stop threatening the government.


What’s your stand when it comes to the Reproductive Health Bill? Are you pro or anti-RH Bill? We’d love to know. Post your thoughts in the comment box below.


SOURCE:
•    ABS-CBNNews.com, “Hontiveros, Tatad debate on RH Bill”
•    ABS-CBNNews.com, “RH Bill advocates tell CBCP: Stop making threats"
•    GMANews.TV, “Bishops: Noynoy may ‘lose votes’ due to RH stance”
•    GMANews.TV, “Bishops threaten civil disobedience over RH bill”
•    GMANews.TV, “CBCP official to Noynoy: State stand on RH bill in SONA"
•    GMANews.TV, “CBCP exec to govt: Give poor Pinoys jobs, not contraceptives”
•    Newsinfo.Inquirer.net, “Celdran released; ‘Damaso’ draws raves in cyberspace”