DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The Catholic Church’s stand against House Bill 4244 has hardly affected the public’s perception of the measure, a party-list representative said here Monday.
However, Rep. Antonio Tinio of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers acknowledged that the Catholic Church “is a strong force to reckon with.”
He said the Catholic Church was undeniably the most influential religious group in the Philippines. “Its influence could even be translated into politics,” he told reporters here.
But Tinio said recent surveys by the Social Weather Station and Pulse Asia showed that the public’s support for the bill—also known as the Responsible Parenthood Reproductive Health and Population and Development bill—was increasing.
“Time changes. The public opinion is for the RH bill because it is for the protection of women and in general, the family,” he said.
Tinio said because of increasing public acceptance, the government’s continuing dialogue with the Catholic Church and the position of majority of the lawmakers, the outlook for the RH bill’s passage was positive.
He said a simple majority vote in Congress could pave the way for the passage of RH bill.
He said 165 congressmen backed the proposed law even if a third of them had reservations.
To address “reservations” proponents of the RH Bill have inserted amendments although Tinio did not specify what these were.
Ramon San Pascual, executive director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc., maintained that the bill was not pro-abortion as claimed by opponents.
“It is a bill that protects women from various illnesses, including death from pregnancy, and help establish an economically well-raised family,” he said.