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Palace lauds sin tax bill passage, but no 'urgent' certification for RH bill yet


Two days after the sin tax bill was passed on third and final reading in the Senate, the Aquino administration still has no clear answer as to the fate of the controversial reproductive health bill. “There are discussions in the House right now. We don’t know what these discussions will be [since] we have not met with the House leadership yet,” Presidential SPokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a briefing Thursday. In a statement released on the government website Wednesday, the Aquino administration hailed the passage of the sin tax bill as a victory for the much sought-after Universal Health Care Program. Malacañang has long said that the sin tax bill is a health issue above anything else. “This complements the Aquino administration’s relentless pursuit of Universal Health Care which underscores the belief that healthcare should be a right and not a privilege in this country,” the statement read. The sin tax bill, after a few roadblocks, managed to sail through Senate by virtue of an ‘urgent’ certification from President Benigno Aquino. However, the Reproductive Health Bill has been given no such assurance. However, when asked why the administration has not certified the RH bill—which would provide easier access to contraceptives, as well as providing sexual health education to adolescents—despite its qualifications as a health measure, Lacierda evaded the question by answering that even without the certification, the administration still wants an RH bill passed. “We want a Responsible Parenthood bill passed into law. We made that very clear. But there are developments yet,” Lacierda said. Lacierda also clarified that contrary to earlier reports, Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales did not say anything indicating the RH bill is dead. ‘Yung sa sinabi ni Congressman Gonzales na sinabi niya [daw na] 'it’s already dead in the [House],' I asked Congressman Gonzales if he indeed said that, he said he didn’t say it,” Lacierda said. Lacierda also reminded the public that the 15th Congress is still in session. “Let’s wait for the developments to take place and hindi pa po tapos ang kongresong ito. As they say, ‘it’s not over until the fat lady sings,’” he added. Meanwhile, facing a fast-approaching December 21 close of the 15th Congress, advocates, including a congressman, have called on Aquino to certify the bill as urgent. “Yung certification as urgent bill… that changes the equation,” Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said at a Tuesday press conference. — BM, GMA News

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