Prayer power against RH on; Malacañang unfazed

The battle against the Reproductive Health bill continues.

 
The Archdiocese of Cebu will hold another prayer march on Saturday as Congress is set to deliberate and may vote on the controversial bill on August 7.

 
The “Solidarity March and Mass for Life Against the RH Bill” will start at Fuente Osmeña at 5:30 p.m.

 
In Manila, the prayer rally will be held on Saturday at the Edsa Shrine followed by a vigil at the House of Representatives on the eve of its further deliberation and possible vote on the measure.

 
The RH bill seeks, among other things, to assist poor couples space births by giving them the choice of artificial contraceptives.

 
A 7 p.m. mass will be held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

 
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged the faithful to participate in the activity.

 
“There is a grave reason to worry when government would rather suppress population through an RH bill instead of confronting the real causes of poverty,” the 62-year-old prelate said in a statement.

 
Palma who is also chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) lamented the government’s position that does not consider its own population as the source of grace and blessing.

 
“Every birth is a gift from God; every new life, a blessing; every birth a cause for rejoicing and praising God who creates new life only out of love.

 
“Our country’s positive birth rate and a population composed of mostly your people are the main players that fuel the economy,” he said.

 
“The draconian population control policy of the RH Bill would only curtail our economic growth. The problem of countries with former robust economies is the lack of young workers for their industries and inadequate support for their aging population,” he said.

 
“It is therefore quite disturbing when the country is told that having too many school children is a burden for the national budget,” he added.

 
Palace unfazed

 
Meanwhile, Malacañang remained calm about Catholic Church-led protests against the RH bill but expressed the hope that the protest action would be peaceful.

 
“Our only appeal for any movements of this nature or any movements of any nature for that matter is for it to be peaceful,” Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, told reporters in a briefing last Tuesday.

 
Valte said the executive branch would coordinate with the police to field personnel at the Edsa Shrine to keep law and order, and ensure the safety of the protesters.

 
Valte said minority lawmakers who were withdrawing support from the controversial measure should answer to their constituents.

 
Valte took exception to observations that the consolidated version of the RH bills filed with the House reflected Malacañang’s version.

 
“If you put them side by side, you’ll notice the similarities, and also the points that were put in to reflect the five-point position of the president on responsible parenthood. It will be good to read the bills earlier filed, and compare them with the consolidated House bill,” she added.

 
In the House, debates on the bill have resumed and will continue until Aug. 7 when a motion to terminate the interpellation is expected to be put to a vote on the floor. After this, the chamber will proceed to the period of amendments and approval on second reading./With INQUIRER reports