Controversial ordinance revised

MANILA, Philippines — Responding to widespread criticism to a controversial piece of legislation regarding the use of contraceptives, the barangay council of Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City submitted a revised version of the ordinance to the city council yesterday morning.

In a text message to the Inquirer, Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro said he had asked councilors to immediately take a look at the revised ordinance titled “Protection of the Unborn Child Ordinance of 2011.”

“I have asked the city council to speed up the review of the controversial ordinance so that the issue which had caused divisions among residents and various groups may be finally put to rest,” he said. “Besides, the issue has [dragged on for] too long.”

All village ordinances must be reviewed and approved by the city council before these can be implemented.

The Inquirer obtained a copy of the revised ordinance through the city’s public information office.

In the newer version, the village council took out the provision on the selling of contraceptives such as condoms without a prescription and replaced it with one which prohibits the sale of the items to minors.

It also did away with the provision which expressed outright support for natural family planning methods and imposed a ban on the promotion of artificial family planning methods in its health centers. Instead, it added a provision which called for the establishment of crisis pregnancy centers.

“The barangay (village) shall encourage and where possible, support, financially and otherwise, the establishment of one or more crises pregnancy centers … to provide assistance in the form of counseling …, medical and material support for women who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy,” the revised ordinance said.

The ordinance was signed by barangay chair Alfred Xerez-Burgos Jr. and almost all councilors. Only one, Joanna Caluglug, abstained.