Pia: Public hearing on Reproductive Health Bill to push through August 11

Senator Pia S. Cayetano is looking forward to an intelligent and spirited debate between leading pro-life and pro-choice advocates at the second public hearing of the Senate on several proposed maternity and reproductive health measures scheduled on Monday, August 11.

"Our committee made sure that experts and distinguished personalities from both sides of the fence were invited to the hearing in order to have a comprehensive discussion of this very sensitive issue," said Cayetano, who chairs the senate committee on health and demography.

"I'm still hoping we could come up with a reproductive health measure that would address the concerns of all. The issues of maternal health, reproductive health and population are integral to our national direction and development, especially amid the energy and food crises. We can't just turn a blind eye to the urgency of this issue," she added.

The lady senator acknowledged the efforts of her fellow lawmakers in the House of Representatives to pass the reproductive health bill despite objections from religious groups and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's explicit disapproval of the measure. The bill has hurdled three committees�health, population and family relations, and appropriations�and will soon be calendared for plenary debates.

"No religious dogma can dictate on Congress what to legislate. As lawmakers we are duty-bound to hear out all the positions and come up with measures that we believe would best serve the public interest."

"In the case of reproductive health, I take the position that all Filipino couples, especially the poor, should have full access to information and services on safe and legally accepted family planning methods, whether natural or artificial."

"In the end, the decision should be left to each Filipino couple. No one, not even the President, has the right to impose on them how to space their children or behave in bed," she stressed.

A total of 42 resource persons were invited from national government agencies, church, academe, local government units, medical professionals, non-government organizations and international health agencies.

Prominent names include: DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, who has expressed personal support for the reproductive health bill; DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III; CBCP President Bishop Angel Lagdameo; former Senator Francisco Tatad of the World Youth Alliance-Asia Pacific; former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani of Forum for Family Planning; Amina Rasul of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy; and Population Commission Executive Director Tomas Osias.

Rina Jimenez-David of women's advocacy group Pilipina; Pro-Life Phils. President Marita Wasan; Reproductive Health Alliance Network (RHAN) Secretary-General Elizabeth Angsioco; Philippine Legislators Committee on Population Development (PLCPD) Executive Director Ramon San Pascual; Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society President Dr. Zaida Gamilla; Dr. Soe Nyut-U of World Health Organization; and Suneeta Mukherjee of the United Nations Population Fund.

Included in the agenda are seven measures seeking to integrate population management and development and enhance public access to information and services on reproductive and maternal health.

Authors of these measures include Senators Rodolfo Biazon (SBN 40 and SBN 187), Panfilo Lacson (SBN 43), Jinggoy Estrada (SBN 622), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (SBN 1256 and 1299 ) and Pia Cayetano (SRN 376).