Many reject birth control bill--Church
By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 20:39:00 10/05/2008
ILOILO CITY -- A survey of a Catholic Church-owned radio station shows majority of congressmen are opposed to the proposed reproductive health bill, which would promote artificial contraceptives.
Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said a recent phone survey of the Church-owned Radio Veritas on congressmen showed most of them were against the "Reproductive Health and Population Development Act."
The radio station called 177 congressmen and interviewed them about their position on the controversial bill that has been pending and being deliberated in Congress.
The poll showed that of the 177 congressmen interviewed, 111 are against the bill, 43 in favor and 22 undecided. The result of the poll is posted at the station's website (www.veritas846.ph/index.html).
Those listed against the bill include President Macapagal Arroyo's son Diosdado and brother-in-law Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo. The President's other congressman son, Juan Miguel or Mikey, is not on the list of those surveyed.
Fr. Anton Pascual, the radio station's president and chief operating officer, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview that they conducted the on-air survey in the last three weeks. The station plans to interview all of the 235 congressmen.
Lagdameo said on Sunday they expected the majority of congressmen to vote against the bill.
But "the campaign against the bill will continue," said Lagdameo.
The Church considers the bill as "anti-life" and against religious teachings.
But proponents of the bill said it should be implemented to curb the country's population growth rate, which has been straining the country's resources.
They said the bill would also help provide adequate and accessible health care for couples especially women and prevent or minimize maternal deaths.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, one of the bill's sponsors, said if those against the bill were claiming the numbers, then they should allow the House to finish deliberation and subject the bill to a vote.
"The deliberation and votation have long been delayed because of the ... tactics of those against it. They are preventing us from debating on the floor. We want the people to hear the two sides so they can decide," Garin told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview on Sunday.
She said they remained positive about the bill’s passage in Congress.
"But if it were not passed, that would be a death blow to millions of Filipinos who are poor. Every day the bill is delayed, a mother dies while giving birth. Each minute, four babies are born adding to our already runaway population," said Garin.
Those named by the Catholic Church as having opposed the RH bill are the following:
Representatives Florencio "Bem" Noel, Glenn Chong, Mary Ann Susano, Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, Proceso Alcala, Emil Ong, Rufus Rodriguez, Milagros Magsaysay, Antonino Rodolfo, Edgardo Chatto, Joseph Abaya, Bienvenido Abante, Amelita Villarosa, Erico Fabian, Exequiel Javier, Carmelo Lazatin, Monico Puentevella, Eric Singson, Zenaida Angping, Benjamin Asilo, Amado Bagatsing, Roilo Golez, Therese David-Bonoan, Jaime Lopez, Francisco Matugas;
Mark Llandro Mendoza, Rene Velarde, Eduardo Zialcita, Carmencita Reyes, Eileen Ermita-Buhain, Eleandro Madrona, Vincent Garcia, Belma Cabilao, Edgar Valdez, Reynila Nicolas, Monico Puentevella, Vincent Crisologo, Hermilando Mandanas, Teodolo Coquilla, Irwin Tieng, Antonio Cuenco, Reynaldo Uy, Sharee Ann Tan, Oscar Malapitan, Florencio Miraflores, Pablo John Garcia, Al Francis Bichara, Raul del Mar, Liwayway Chato, Alfonso Umali;
Edgardo San Luis, Erwin Tieng, Edwin Uy, Herminia Ramiro, Guillermo Romarate, Rodolfo Valencia, Thelma Almario, Carissa Coscolluela, Nanette Daza, Pedro Romualdo, Mariano Piamonte, Antonio Alvarez, Maria Isabel Climaco, Joseph Violago, Mark Enverga, Maria Victoria Alvaro Sy, Junie Cua, Ramon Durano, Fred Castro, Nur Jaafar, Victoria Reyes, Eufrocino Codilla, Sr., Angelito Gatlabayan, Trinidad Apostol, Chinchona Cruz-Gonzales;
Orlando Fua, Romulo Roman, Teodoro Marcelino, Abraham Mitra , Manuel Kurat, Roberto Puno, Isidro Ungab, Candido Pancrudo, Antonio Lagdameo, Rolando Uy, Condrado Estrella, Roberto Cajes, Mikey Arroyo, Noel Florencio, Pablo Garcia, Eduardo Gullas, Pedro Pancho, Roger Mercado-Gaviola, Relson Adam Jala, Mary Mitzi Cajayon, Carmen Cari, Narciso Bravo, Jose Maria Zubiri, Andres Salvacion, Herminia Roman;
Arturo Robes, Arago Maria Evita, Reno Lim, Jose de Venecia Jr., Laarni Cayetano, Paul Daza, Czarina Umali, Rodolfo Antonino and Benhur Salimbangon.
Radio Veritas listed those supporting the bill as:
Representatives Ronaldo Zamora, Ruffy Biazon, Juan Edgardo Angara, Anna York Bondoc, Edgardo Salvador, Samuel Dangwa, Teodoro Casiño, Danilo Suarez, Manuel Mamba, Amante Edilmiro, Abdullah Dimaporo, Dan Fernandez, Mujic Hataman, Roque Ablan,
Liza Maza, Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel, Philip Pichay, Teodoro Locsin Jr., Mauricio Domogan, Satur Ocampo, Abraham Mitra, Jose Lacson, Edcel Lagman, Janette Garin, Marc Douglas Cagas;
Darlene Custodio, Florencio Garay, Nicanor Briones, Lorna Silverio, Simeon Datumanong, Justine Chepeco, Crispin Remulla, Nerrisa Corazon Ruiz, Victor Ortega, Emilou Talino-Mendoza, Ronaldo Singson, Neptali Gonzales Jr., Eduardo Joson, Manuel Agyao, Jose Carlos Lacson, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Antonio Kho and Didagen Dilangalen.
Those listed by Radio Veritas as undecided were: Representatives Jocelyn Limkaichong, Lorenzo Tañada, Raul Daza, Manuel Abiao, Teofisto Guingona III, Samuel Dangwa, Rodolfo Plaza, Mark Cojuangco, Arthur Defensor, Ernesto Pablo, Michael John Duavit, Faustino Dy, Alvin Sandoval, Jose Antonio Roxas, Prude Henry Teves, Victor Ortega, Monica Prieto-Ortega, Erwin Chiongbian, Jose Solis, Mary Cajayon, Jose Yap and Magtanggol Gunigundo.
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