RH bill proponents see passage of measure

MANILA, Philippines - Proponents of the Reproductive Health bill expressed confidence in the passage of the controversial measure as Congress resumed session on Monday. In a telephone interview with GMANews.TV, principal author and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the latest Pulse Asia survey showing that six out of 10 Filipinos favor reproductive health legislation would help strengthen the authors' case when the bill is taken up on the floor again. "Definitely this will help in the enactment of the bill because Congress and Senate are responsive to what the people want," Lagman said. He said the latest poll result is only one of many indications that majority of Filipinos want to be educated and provided with services on reproductive health. Lagman said the only thing barring the bill's passage is time, since more than 20 lawmakers are still set to interpellate in the plenary. However, he maintained that he is confident that the controversial bill would be approved. "I'm definite that we can pass it because there is growing support from the people and multi-sectoral groups. The only opposition is the Catholic Church hierarchy and this is even divided," Lagman said. Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, another main proponent of House Bill 5043, said she believes they have the numbers to support the bill's passage in the House. "They (congressmen) will be swayed. We have 113 co-authors and only need 120 congressmen to vote for the bill," Hontiveros said in a text message to GMANews.TV. Like Lagman, Hontiveros said the Pulse Asia survey is encouraging. "Surveys like that will strengthen our case by showing that citizens want the bill," she said. Earlier during the day, polling firm Pulse Asia said 63 percent of Filipinos expressed support for reproductive health legislation while only 8 percent opposed it. More than one-fourth or 29 percent, meanwhile, are still ambivalent on the matter. The controversial Reproductive Health bill, which proposes mandatory reproductive health education and the use of both traditional and modern contraceptives, has been staunchly opposed by some Catholic Church leaders and groups, which claim that the bill promotes abortion and promiscuity. Speaker Prospero Nograles has earlier said the measure will be one of the priority legislations that the House will take up before it goes into recess again on March 6. - GMANews.TV