PB listens to pros, cons

Members of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) need time to digest the pros and cons of the Reproductive Health bill.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said the PB will hold a caucus next week to determine their stand on the bill after listening to two doctors they   invited to speak  about the bill in yesterday’s session.

Dr. Milagros Chan, a gynecologist, explained why the bill should become law while Dr. Rene Bullecer, a pro-life physician, explained why it should be rejected.

Chan said  the anti-RH bill groups do not understand that the bill is for the empowerment of women.

Only two sections in the bill speak of  family planning while most sections refer to women’s health, Chan said. She added that people should not impose their beliefs on others and a balanced statement should be made about the side effects of contraception.

Asked by PB Member  Sun Shimura about the provision on  teaching sex education to grade 5 students, Chan said sex education under the bill will be “age appropriate.”

Bullecer in his presentation titled “Choosing Life, Rejecting the RH Bill”  indicated that the bill has been renamed and refiled many times.

Bullecer said in the end the bill will lead to  “forcible  family planning.”

Asked by PB Member Rimobapil Holganza to what extent pro-life groups will work to stop the implementation of an RH law, Bullecer said they rely on  congressmen like Deputy Speaker  Pablo Garcia to stop the passage of the bill.

But if it becomes a law, Bullecer said they would seek legal remedies in  the Supreme Court.

After the session, Magpale announced that the PB members will be given time  to “digest” the discussion.

Copies of the consolidated  version of the bill were given to the board members.

PB Member  Daan in an interview said he is against the RH bill’s passage into law.

“Whatever is the stand of the Church, that is my   stand,” he said.

“I will not go against the Church.”

He said God “miraculously” healed his daughter-in-law who  was diagnosed with  cancer in her thighs  through the intercession of nuns.  /Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus