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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Church's protest fails to block LDPC passage
By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO CITY -- Even an implied threat of being denied the holy sacraments by the Catholic Church was not able to stop the passage of the Local Development Plan for Children (LDPC) under second reading Tuesday.
After a two-hour discussion on the proposed amendments interspersed with strong opposition from some groups, the body voted for the plan's passage following the motion of LDPC proponent Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad to end the discussion.
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As per City Council rules, the body is required to immediately vote on the matter if there is approval of a motion to end the discussion.
Eighteen members voted yes, four said no, while two abstained.
Among those who voted "No" were Councilors Teresita Mata-Marañon, Susan Isabel Reta, Peter Laviña, and Pilar Braga, while those who abstained were Councilors Dante Apostol and Conrado Baluran.
The 18 who voted "Yes" were Councilors Nilo Abellera, Ma. Belen Sunga-Acosta, Victorio Advincula, Wilberto Al-ag, Leonardo Avila III, Samuel Bangoy, Karlo S. Bello, Louie John Bonguyan, Danilo Dayanghirang, Paolo Duterte, Edgar Ibuyan, Diosdado Angelo Mahipus, Tomas Monteverde IV, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Halila Sudagar, Angela Librado-Trinidad, Jose Louie Villafuerte and Rachel Zozobrado.
Sun.Star learned that at least 10 of the 18 councilors are Catholics.
Marañon, in an interview, said she was truly disappointed that her colleagues approved the matter even with opposition from the church.
"The provisions, especially on access to information on reproductive health, are too general or broad there is a possibility they might be abused," Marañon said.
Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, on the other hand, said she is elated by the approval because she believes the plan will truly help the children.
Aside from the much-opposed reproductive health provisions, the LDPC includes programs aimed at enhancing the development of children in terms of education and recreation.
The incorporated amendments ranged from the increase of budget for the parenting education course, as well as sports and the establishment of a training program for Adult Role Models for the guidance of parents and teachers.
"The role of the parents must be emphasized and espoused in LDPC. Parents must be given access to information, trainings, and orientation so they can enhance their capability to deal with adolescent reproductive health issues. This is in line with the principle that the child's development is always considered within the context of family," Councilor Avila said.
Councilor Mahipus, meanwhile, asked for the inclusion of a list of church groups in the Council for the Welfare of Children to make sure that all religious sects are well represented.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, in an interview Monday afternoon, pushed for the LDPC.
"We believe what we are doing is the right thing and we invoke the separation of the church and state," Duterte said.
The mayor added that LPDC is a "program for all, not just Catholics."
"Programa ni sa gobyerno (This is a government program), we will go on. There is no plan to change because we have a job to do. Ako Kristiyano pero ako naay trabaho sa gobyerno. Di ko makipag-away sa simbahan, nagbuhat lang mi sa among trabaho (I am a Christian but I work for the government. I will not quarrel with the Church, we are just doing our jobs)," Duterte said.
Duterte, even without a legislated program for population management, has been giving cash incentives to poor couples who ask to be either ligated or vasectomized for the past few years.
Early Tuesday morning, religious groups staged a silent protest outside the City Council building but dispersed before the morning session was over.
Davao Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla had earlier issued a statement dated April 12 cautioning against the passage of the ordinance, saying it is "dangerous and detrimental to the moral and spiritual welfare of the people."
"I say 'dangerous and detrimental' because in the guise of 'reproductive health and safe pregnancy', the plan mocks parental authority, belittles the value of family, denigrates the virtue of chastity, makes available all contraceptives to children from 0-18 years old and promotes pre-marital sex and promiscuity. The plan therefore offends our Catholic faith and the religious sentiments of our people," Capalla said, thus appealing to the local officials to be "sensitive and respectful of the religious feelings and moral values of the people."
It was in this letter that Capalla implied the threat of withholding the sacraments from staunch supporters of the ordinance.
"I wish to convey my sincere respect for their decision. But I wish to inform them that such decision, when often done in open defiance and ridicule of the Church's moral teachings, may create public scandal thereby making themselves openly unworthy to receive the sacraments," the archbishop wrote. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (April 16, 2008 issue)
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