House may not tackle RH bill until disputed issues are settled—solon

Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives might not tackle the Reproductive Health Bill until after contentious issues are ironed out during a caucus, a lawmaker sid Tuesday.

Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy said House Bill 4244 or the RH Bill was not discussed Monday because it wasn’t part of the session’s agenda that day.

“I heard na baka magcaucus muna kami,” said the pro-RH Bill lawmaker.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has raised the need for pros and antis on the RH Bill to meet in a caucus. He said that the House leadership sought to “reach out to both sides” in discussing HB 4244.

As compromise to staunch critics of the RH Bill, its proponents have introduced a new version of the measure, copies of which were distribuuted in the middle of October to fellow lawmakers.

In this version, the State will only promote family planning methods which “will not prevent the implantation of the fertilized ovum” and those approved only by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The measure’s target beneficiaries will be the poorest couples who have no access to family planning methods as determined by the National Household Targeting System.

But the RH Bill was still not part of the agenda despite the presence of a quorum Monday, six sessions after not having enough warm bodies at the plenary.

Dy said she heard that the RH Bill might not make it to the agenda for Tuesday’s session either.

“Baka sa Wednesday o baka next week kasi sabi baka caucus daw muna,” she said.

“Sure na yun next week. Let’s just have faith,” the lawmaker added.