‘Occupy for RH’ movement demands vote on controversial bill

Various groups inspired by the “Occupy Wall Street" movement in the United States on Monday trooped to the office of the House of Representatives to demand a vote on the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill. About a hundred pro-RH individuals from the “Occupy for RH" movement went to the south gate of the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City to ask congressmen to vote on the measure, formally known as House Bill (HB) 4244, before year-end. “Ang purpose po nito ay upang pataasin ang level ng pagdulog sa mga kongresista sa necessity ng voting. It does not matter if the vote is for or against the bill. Ang gusto lang po namin ay matapos na ang debate at magbotohan na," said Dr. Junice Melgar, the movement’s chief coordinator. The purple-clad protesters unfurled a huge banner saying “Tama Na, Sobra Na, Botohan Na" in front of the Batasan Pambansa’s gate where vehicles of lawmakers pass on their way to the main building. Members of the “Occupy for RH" movement also tied purple ribbons—the symbol used by groups supporting the measure’s passage—on the gate while holding a noise barrage.

Melgar said the House leadership should already set a specific date on which HB 4244 will be voted on, since all arguments on the measure have already been “exhausted." “Sa Wall Street, they expressed economic dissatisfaction. Dito, pinapahayag naman namin ang dissatisfaction sa RH policy. The lawmakers can’t keep interpellating ‘til kingdom come. ‘Wag nilang patayin ang RH bill dahil sa delay," she said. The House has been deliberating on the RH bill for eight months now, despite the fact that President Benigno Aquino III called for “expeditious action" on the measure by including it in his government’s legislative priorities. The RH bill, which promotes both natural and artificial methods of contraception, is being opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, which accepts only natural methods of family planning. - KBK, GMA News