CBCP, pro-RH Law side laud SC decision

Both the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines and supporters of the Reproductive Health Law on Tuesday lauded the decision of the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the RH Law, but for different reasons.

In a statement, CBCP president and Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villages said that although the SC upheld the law's constitutionality, "it has truly watered down the RH law" by "[upholding] the importance of adhering to an informed religious conscience even among government workers" and "[standing] on the side of the rights of parents to teach their children."

Villegas, however, also called the law "unjust." "On the part of the Church, we must continue to teach what is right and moral. We will continue to proclaim the beauty and holiness of every human person. Through two thousand years, the Church has lived in eras of persecution, authoritarian regimes, wars and revolutions. The Church can continue its mission even with such unjust laws," he said.

Villegas admitted that the anti-RH side cannot see eye-to-eye with the pro-RH, “but we can work hand-in-hand for the good of the country.”

“Let us move on from being an RH-law-reactionary-group to a truly Spirit empowered disciples of the Gospel of life and love. We have a positive message to proclaim,” Villegas further said.

An 'incomplete' victory

Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, one of the authors of RH bill during the 15th Congress, viewed the decision as a victory for the people.

"For as long as the State is still mandated and empowered to implement a reproductive health program with the appropriate funding necessary for it to reach Filipinos in need, the historic Supreme Court decision is still a victory for the people, albeit incomplete," she said in a statement.

Parts of the Law's Sections 7, 17 and 23 were struck down, thus limiting the scope of its coverage even while preserving its core of requiring the state to deliver the full range of family planning services to the public.

Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez, also an advocate of the law, said they will study if there is still a need for them to file a motion for reconsideration on the SC decision.

He said the SC should have given more weight to the extensive discussions the law went through.

“I'm happy the law was upheld—finally after more than 15 years in Congress and a year in the SC, the law which aims to allow poor Filipinos access to family planning information and services can be implemented. I'm disappointed that parts were declared unconstitutional. I wish the SC had given more weight to the extensive discussions this law went through,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

He said that while the SC decision left the Law's core principle—government support for RH information and services—intact, he admitted it will be harder to implement.

“It will be harder to implement given the religious exemptions granted to publicly licensed health professionals and public officers,” he said.

Key provisions kept

Former Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, also one of the authors of the RH bill, said the “few provisions whose constitutionality was not upheld will not diminish the efficacy of the law and deter its full implementation.”

He said what is important is that the SC did not touch the salient provisions such as:

• Sec. 3(a), on the mandate of the government to provide and distribute for free to marginalized acceptors reproductive health services and supplies.
• Sec. 9, on the Philippine National Drug Formulary which shall include hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other safe, legal, non-abortifacient and effective family product and supplies as determined by Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Sec. 10, on the procurement and distribution of family planning supplies by the Department of Health (DOH) for distribution to local government units.
• Sec. 14, on the provision on age- and development-appropriate reproductive health education to adolescents in all schools.
• The role of local government units in the implementation of the RH law as provided in various sections of the law.
• Sec. 20, on public awareness and nationwide multimedia campaign for the protection and promotion of reproductive health and rights.

Lagman added the SC ruling is a challenge to the Executive to fully and faithfully implement the RH Law and to Congress to provide adequate and meaningful appropriations to fund reproductive health programs and to resist attempts to repeal or weaken the RH Law.

“The much-awaited decision positively responded to the consistent clamor of the people for the enactment and implementation of the RH Law and for government to give reproductive health services and supplies to marginalized and poor acceptors of family planning,” he said.

The group Purple Ribbon for RH thanked the High Tribunal for upholding the law and giving it a chance to be implemented saying the decision is “the victory of women, children, youth, the family, the future of Filipinos and democracy.”

“From this day forward, we can expect that the government will be with us and help every Filipino in advancing their right, their health and their freedom to make informed decision. This day marks the beginning of a brighter tomorrow,” the group said. — BM, GMA News