Sona disappoints RH bill supporters

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

ADVOCATES of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill said President Benigno Aquino III's State of the Nation of Address (Sona) on Monday lacked depth and content.

Ramon San Pascual, executive director of the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Foundation Inc. (PLCPD), said supporters were hoping that President Aquino will urge Congress to immediately vote on the proposed RH measure.

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But this did not take place as San Pascual noticed the President's move to "please the bishops".

In the speech, President Aquino thanked Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal for being open to dialog over certain issues.

For its part, the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) likened President Aquino to a carpenter building a house but without a plan.

DSWP national chairperson Elizabeth Angsioco said the President should have revisited his campaign promises as stated in his "Social Contract with the Filipino People."

He failed to develop a concrete plan on how to achieve the 16 points in the contract, she stressed.

Angsioco said advocates are "wary" that the non-inclusion of RH bill showed the President's lack of political will.

He should actually be able to use his substantial political capital for these controversial issues but he chose to keep quiet, she continued.

Despite this, San Pascual is still confident that the RH bill will be passed before yearend due to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte's commitment to the measure and Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile's resolve to calendar debates.

Leading RH bill supporter Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is set deliver her lengthy sponsorship speech on Wednesday while the House vowed to continue plenary debates on the measure. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)