RH bill now in House’s court–Palace

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Amid the backing of big business for the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill, Malacañang on Friday said the ball was now in the court of the House of Representatives.

“We’ve already made our position on responsible parenthood. It will be up to the legislature on how to take that particular piece of information that you have—companies of the private sector (that) are saying that if this is passed, we will help you with your projects,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte at a Palace briefing.

At the summit on family planning in the business sector the other day, representatives of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employment Confederation of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) signed a “manifesto of support” calling for a national modern family planning program.

The business groups also vowed to “mobilize investments for family planning and other reproductive health services” as well as implement family planning programs for the poor as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Valte said the message put forward by the country’s biggest business organizations should be clear enough for the lawmakers. If the proposed legislation is passed, she said the Palace would support the projects that would be executed.

Valte reiterated that President Aquino’s position on RH was clear.

The bill is envisioned by the Aquino administration to provide Filipinos with a universal access to modern family planning methods.

“It’s really not as much as the Palace position but the advocacy behind responsible parenthood,” she said, when asked if the support of big business would strengthen the Palace’s position.