House ends debates on RH bill after solons’ lunch with PNoy

THE House of Representatives decided yesterday to end the debate on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, and put the proposal in a period of amendments before a vote on second reading.

Before the day’s session, 180 members of the Lower House—including those who oppose House Bill 4244—had lunch with President Benigno Aquino III.

This was confirmed by Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI (Cebu, fifth district). “Nihangyo lang si President (to stop the debates) para di na malangay (The President requested us to stop the debates so that there would be no further delays),” Durano said.

Agham Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones said he agrees with the President that the debates on the RH bill should end, so that lawmakers can “move on” and “discuss other bills.”

He told Sun.Star Cebu that lawmakers reached a consensus to end the debates during the luncheon meeting with the President.

The party-list congressman was unable to attend the President’s luncheon meeting but he was at the session.

The Lower House was supposed to vote on whether to end the debates today, but some lawmakers pushed for the voting yesterday.

With the end of the debates, House Bill 4244 enters a period where lawmakers propose amendments to the proposal before voting on it to proceed to second reading.

The bill seeks to make it mandatory for the government to provide free contraceptives as well as introduce sex education in schools. The Catholic church leads the opposition to the proposal.

Different versions of the proposal to enact a law on reproductive health and population control have been introduced in Congress for more than 10 years.

“Sufficient time has been given to both sides to argue,” said Durano. Asked which has advantage in numbers, Durano said he cannot say at this point which has the majority.