Ilonggo solon lauds P-Noy's RH LEDAC endorsement

Ilonggo solon lauds P-Noy's RH LEDAC endorsement

As women’s group cautions on ‘watered-down’ version

By Florence F. Hibionada/ PNS

ILOILO - Iloilo First District Representative Janette Loreto Garin is all thumbs-up on the presidential endorsement of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.

Calling it “an upright decision,” the Ilongga 

 solon lauded the latest move which had President Benigno Aquino III endorse RH in the list of priority of Legislative Agenda of the Executive (LEDAC).

Garin, a principal RH backer, has since pushed for its passage with sustained advocacies amidst attacks on her stance.

“Being one of the major proponents of RH, I am very grateful that the President has finally considered including the bill in the list of priority measures of the Executive,” Garin said in an official statement. “I salute the President for his courage and political will to endorse the RH bill despite the stiff opposition of some leaders of the Catholic Church.”

Garin explains that the political will as exemplified by our nation’s leader is the missing link we have been longing for a faster and more progressive take-off from poverty.

House Bill 4244 or the Responsible Parenthood, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development Act of 2011 has been languishing in the halls of Congress for more than 10 years. This is the first time that the Executive endorses the bill for consideration in the LEDAC.

Meantime, a conditional “victory” - it seemed - for a women’s group saying while a welcomed development, public should be cautious on “the watered-down” version.

In a news release, Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) said that the more than forty thousand DSWP women members nationwide have remained vigilant following PNoy’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) sans RH.

“We have to admit that the RH-less SONA concerned us, but after Malacanang’s endorsement of the measure, we see it as a good sign that the President listens to what the people say,” Angsioco explains. “And we commend him for that,” she added.

Moreover, Angsioco expressed appreciation to LEDAC members for finally including the RH bill in its priority measures despite the very strong opposition from the CBCP and its allies.

She states that this development should clearly tell Congress that the RH bill needs to be voted on and passed the soonest and that there is no reason to dilly-dally on the bill. “Taking the cue from the President himself, lawmakers should now stop dilatory tactics,” said Angsioco.

Angsioco said that the passage of this highly clamored RH bill may be this administration’s biggest legacy to women, especially those in poverty who had long been affected by the lack of access to RH services.

“However,” said Angsioco, “our group will remain vigilant and work so that the final version that will be enacted does not lose the essence of what we have been fighting for 16 long years now.”

Reaction:

    

           Philippines today suffers from the increasing population, government find it hard to control the increasing population. It took them years to come up with a solution and that is the RH bill, but even they have a good idea on how to control it, many people is against it because it violates the law of Jesus.

          We all know that Philippines is one of the most populated country in the world, and till now it is still increasing. Because of this our economy is going down, many people are becoming poor, some suffer from hunger that leads to death. For me, this is really bad, i feel sorry for those people who die because of hunger, but we can't blame the government, because the government has this bill to control the problem so that our economy will not go down but still, many people is against it. But now, i'm glad that RH bill is on the priority list of PNoy. People of the Philippines need this to control our increasing population.

PNoy signs pro-poor laws: PNoy signs pro-poor laws

PNoy signs pro-poor laws: PNoy signs pro-poor laws: "abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 06/21/2011 1:43 PM | Updated as of 06/21/2011 1:43 PM MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aqui..."

PNoy signs pro-poor laws

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 06/21/2011 1:43 PM | Updated as of 06/21/2011 1:43 PM

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III signed into law several pro-poor bills, including the mandatory immunization for children and the extension of the lifeline electricity rates for poor consumers.

Aquino signed on Tuesday the extension of the lifeline rate for electricity which, he said, would “allow the less fortunate among us to put more of their resources into feeding themselves, or into saving enough to pay hospital or medicine bills. In short, extending this lifeline rate allows those shackled by poverty to focus more of their resources into keeping themselves and their families alive, while also giving them access to electricity.”

Also on the power sector, the President signed an act extending the existence of the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC).

The JCPC was tasked to ensure the reforms in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

He also signed the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act, which requires that all children under 5-years-old be given basic immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Another one he signed into law is a bill allowing the employment of female night workers.

“Right now, industries, specially our BPOs, who are hiring women workers to perform night work are first required to secure an exemption from the
Department of Labor and Employment–and the strange thing is that this is not necessary in hiring male workers for the same assignment,” he said.

He noted this technicality should not give rise to discrimination.

“We are not satisfied yet. And these bills we are signing today do not mean we can rest. In fact, these bills symbolize the beginning of even more work, even more long nights of discussions and arguments, even more programs and support legislation to be instituted and passed all for the benefit of our people. These bills are only part of the foundation of the Philippines we want to build,” Aquino said.

REACTION: 

                       These pro-poor bills that President Benigno Aquino signed last month is a good thing mainly for the reason that it gives our poor citizens a chance to invest on other things like education and food in order for them to live.

                        The laws passed are “two thumbs-up” for me. I like best the Mandatory Infants and Children Immunization Act because a lot of money can be saved on hospitalization in diseases that can be prevented, instead of using the money for the hospitalization of the child they can use it for their needs. I just hope that the budget intended for these laws would go to where it should be and not on the pockets of corrupt officials and this bill should cover all poor people.