Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer yesterday maintained his support for the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health bill, despite threats of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines to campaign against congressmen who will vote for its passage.

Ferrer (Negros Occ., 4th district) and Bayan Muna Partylist Rep.Neri Colmenares are among the co-authors of the RH bill, while Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez and Rep. Alfredo Maranon III (Negros Occ,2nd district), are among those opposing its passage.

He blamed the growing population and low income of familes, as some of the contributory factors to the problems being faced by the country.

Golez expressed dismay that each congressmen was not given a chance to air his or her stand on the bill during their session Monday night.

The House of Representatives voted Monday night to finally terminate discussions on the bill after more than 19 months of debate.

Since the 13th Congress, Maranon said he has been firm in his decision not to support the RH bill, as he also joined the Pro-Life stand of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Development Through Active Women Networking Foundation Inc. and former Bacolod Councilor Celia Flor, a member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission Women Sectoral Council, have also expressed support for the bill, that they said, will provide universal access to, and information on natural and modern family methods.

With the termination of debates, the bill - otherwise known as “An Act Providing For A Comprehensive Policy On Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, And Population And Development” - will enter the period of amendments and is up for passage on second reading.

Colmenares, said he agrees with the termination of the plenary debates so the House of Representatives can proceed to decide on the ultimate fate of the bill.
In Bacolod, Msgr. Victorino Rivas said that if Congress approves the RH bill, they will continue to campaign for it, down to the barangay level.

Meanwhile, former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. yesterday said he is Pro-Life with economic, cultural and social conditions, when asked about his stand on the RH Bill.

Magsaysay said he is pro-life with the qualification of the parents being more responsible in terms of the health, economic capability and the capacity of the family to give sound, quality education to their children.

“We are in a global situation where scarcity seems to be getting more profound…we have the same land, much less farms, our food security is challenged and with too many children not being given by their parents the right education and health, so that becomes a problem,” he said.

Magsaysay, however, clarified that he is against the use of abortifacients because it is against nature, and that it also affects the mother.

“It is a conscience issue. I think husband and wife must take it upon themselves, not only to be responsible, but also accountable,” he said.*GBP/CGS

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