CBCP NEWS - CEBU PASSES ANTI-RH BILL RESOLUTION

CEBU CITY, August 10, 2011—The Cebu Provincial Board unanimously passed on August 8 a resolution opposing the Reproductive Health (RH) bill pending in Congress after being briefed on the pros and cons of the controversial piece of legislation.

The resolution was introduced by Board Member Sergio Restauro, chairman of the Provincial Board (PB) Committee on Health, but co-sponsored by all members on a 16-0 vote.

The PB action supported the stand of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the nine Cebuano solons who are against the proposed bill.

Restauro cited economic, health and legal perspectives in explaining why there is neither wisdom in nor legal support for the RH bill.

He said the government will be spending billions of pesos through the years in procuring condoms and other contraceptives instead of allocating the money for more essential and suitable projects, such as housing, medicines and education, if such measure were to be enacted into law.

A five percent failure rate means that five percent of the couples using a particular contraceptive method will be pregnant at the end of the year, Restauro said.

He added that birth control drugs and devices also give a false sense of security, leading to risky sexual behavior and thereby resulting in more unplanned pregnancies and, inadvertently, more abortions.

Restauro explained that improved access to basic health care, nutrition, medicines and technology—not contraceptives—are the key to reducing and eliminating maternal mortality and morbidity.

The bill will result in the death of thousands of Filipino babies from abortifacient contraceptives and pave the way for the acceptance of other methods of abortion, he added.

“The RH Bill contains provisions which are contrary to the teachings of the Church on faith and morals and even of pertinent provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” he pointed out.

Restauro also cited that the measure violates most of the Ten Commandments because it promotes greed and lust.

The PB earlier invited speakers who explained to the members both sides of the issue before coming out with an official stand.

Two weeks ago, during its regular session, the Board invited two speakers to present opposing views on the controversial bill. The group Catholics 4RH, which also filled the session gallery with its supporters, presented its views.

On the anti-RH side, the sole presentor was Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Country Director of Human Life International (HLI)  Pilipinas, who made a thorough discussion especially on the history of the RH bill, the population control agenda, and the untold evils of the legislative measure. (John Luke Evangelista)