Enrile: Responsible parenthood part of Aquino's wish list

MANILA -- There is no pressure for the Senate to pass the controversial Reproductive Health bill even after President Benigno Aquino III drew loud cheers for apparently endorsing the measure in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

Being a member of Congress from 1998-2010, President Aquino knew that all legislation should pass through debate, said Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile.

Debates on the measure are still pending conclusion at the House of Representatives while the Senate took a step further last June when it terminated interpellations and put the bill to a vote, possibly by August.

"That is the wish list of the President. I have dealt with many presidents. They have their own wish list. They are operating within a democratic setting. They know that everything is subject to be debated," Enrile told reporters.

The President pitched for responsible parenthood as possible answer to ballooning school population, which in turn, requires the government to continuously plug shortages in classrooms and textbooks.

Supporters of the RH bill welcomed the President’s statement, hoping that this will sway Congress to finally pass the measure before the preparations for the 2013 midterm elections.

Malacañang had repeatedly espoused “responsible parenthood” which supports any legal planning method that Filipino couples decide to take, whether natural or artificial. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)