RH advocates launch vigil, mass action ahead of SC judgment day

BAGUIO CITY– Reproductive health proponents tied purple ribbons around trees and signposts lining downtown Session Road on Sunday to signal the start of an advocacy vigil.

The groups are waiting for a ruling from the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the RH law (Republic Act 10354) during its summer sessions here.

The government had been unable to enforce the law, more formally known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, after it was challenged by groups affiliated with the Catholic Church for violating Charter provisions guaranteeing the right to life and freedom of religion.

That year-long delay “has been fatal,” because the government has been unable to provide appropriate reproductive health services to 600 teenagers who get pregnant in the Philippines each day, said Commissioner Percival Cendaña of the National Youth Commission, who studied the teen pregnancy trend in the 2010 census report.

Cendaña is joining a vigil in front of the High Court’s Baguio compound on Monday  to await a ruling, which advocates expect to be reached on April 8 during the Court’s en banc session.

The government is ready to roll out RH services should the Court rule out in favor of the law, he said.

“The implementing rules and regulations [of the law] have been completed and an age-appropriate curriculum teaching reproductive health to pupils has also been completed,” he said.

The government is willing to draw up and fight for a new RH measure should the court rule the current law, Cendaña said.

RELATED STORIES

Church not obsessed with RH law–CBCP

Anti-RH group girds for judgment day, sees slim win in SC

SC urged to affirm legality of RH Law