ROXAS CITY, Philippines—About 4,000 people, mostly students, attended Thursday afternoon a “pro-life” rally led by the Catholic Church condemning the controversial reproductive health bill, which would promote the use of artificial birth control methods by couples.

The protesters walked from the Roxas City public plaza to the Villareal Stadium starting 1 p.m. to highlight their opposition to House Bill 5043, which has been in plenary debates in the House of Representatives.

Dr. Rene Bullecer, Human Life International-Cebu director, tagged the measure as anti-life, anti-health, anti-family and anti-Christ.

Bullecer also decried the proposed role of the Commission of Population (PopCom) in the bill.

Under the proposed bill, Bullecer said the PopCom would assume responsibility for the sex education of Filipino children for six consecutive years -- with the help of the Department of Education, the private and public schools.

The protesters signed a resolution prepared by the St. Anthony College Committee on Social Concerns addressed to Senator Mar Roxas, Representatives Antonio del Roxario (Capiz, 1st district) and Fredenil Castro (Capiz, 2nd district) urging them to oppose House Bill No. 5043.

The resolution was signed by hundreds of Capiceños.

Capiz Archbishop Onesimo Gordoncillo recently issued a pastoral letter read in all Catholic churches in the province during Sunday masses condemning the bill.