by Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY, March 31  – Reproductive health advocates, through a Kapihan media forum, Wednesday, brought the issue of House Bill No. 4244, otherwise known as the Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population Development Bill to the local media.

Hosted by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD),panelists included: Gabriela Party List Representative Emerenciana De Jesus, DIWA Party List Representative Emmeline Aglipay, Likhaan Center for Women’s health executive director Dr. Junice Melgar, UP School of Economics professor Dr. Ernesto Pernia, Commission on Population (PopCom-CAR) regional director Aurora Quiray, and PLCPD executive director Ramon San Pascual.

According to Aglipay, HB No. 4244 has already passed the sponsorship phase and is now up for plenary debate at the House of Representatives. She said they are now pushing for a more intelligent and effective debate on the said bill.

Aglipay lauded Malacañang for its continuous advocacy for Reproductive Health but she called on President Benigno Aquino III to put up a more definite stand on HB 4244, as it would be a big help in their advocacy to have the said bill signed before the end of this year.

Aglipay stressed that reproductive health is part of every human’s right and is not optional, which is why the state should uphold it as part of its obligation to protect and promote, to provide and facilitate human rights.

“The right of people to the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health, to decide the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so are inherent human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights declaration and relevant UN consensus documents. We, the supporters of the RH Bill are not also in favor of the murder of any children, or of sexual promiscuity,” Aglipay said.

Aglipay also noted that the said bill clearly defines the modern methods of family planning, which refers to safe, effective, and legal methods that are registered with the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health.


The issue of a reproductive health law always involves poverty and social concerns, as well as questions on conception, education, discrimination, free expression and morality, but again Aglipay reiterated that the right to reproductive health is the right of every individual and no one may exercise that right on any person’s behalf, not his/her church nor his/her government.

“Every individual has a human right to reproductive health. Human right is not optional, neither is the RH bill and the government has the absolute duty to enact it,” Aglipay stressed. *(PIA CAR)