THE creation of a Women's Health Care Clinic won another supporter in the person of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president and City Councilor Halila Sudagar.
The reproductive health (RH) ordinance was passed in the third and final reading.
The clinic will dispense services for reproductive health care, which received much opposition from the City Council, including Sudagar, during deliberations in the past months.
Sudagar, a Muslim, repeatedly said before that Islam is against contraception, a provision in the establishment of the clinic that is hotly contested by religious groups.
However, Sudagar explained her new vote that since the approved clinic is not solely on promoting contraception but rather focused on addressing women's health, including seeking men's cooperation for their partner's health, she gave it a positive vote.
"(The provision on Reproductive Health) is not entirely accepted in the Islam religion. Islam allows only natural birth control neither does it totally accept mandatory adolescent reproductive health education, for Islam only introduces the same to married couples," Sudagar said.
"However, some Islamic countries allow contraceptives but to married couples only. And since this clinic is helpful and (will be) preventing unwanted birth, HIV, or to control population explosion (I consider it) a good ordinance. I am voting yes," she added.
Sudagar said that she made consultations with Muslim elders before making a decision.
"They gave their approval because it is for women's health. I've also consulted with (Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad) and she said the clinic will be open to all residents, Muslims included," Sudagar said.
Contrary to Sudagar's explanation, however, it was the Muslim religious leaders who were most receptive to RH concerns and family planning compared with other religious groups.
On March 10, 2004, in a big gathering in Davao City of religious elders and Islamic scholars from all over Mindanao, the grand mufti of Central Mindanao Omar Pasigan Mohammad, together with 200 other religious Muslim leaders, declared a national 'fatwa' or religious decree, on family planning.
A grand mufti is an Islamic legal expert with the power to speak on religious matters.
That fatwa has not been lifted since.
Following interventions that came after the fatwa, a survey of A'immah (Muslim religious leaders) months later showed that of the 76 percent of A'immah who were aware of the fatwa on family planning, 77 percent said they were actively promoting this.
In the same survey, it showed that 77 percent of A'immah finds family planning practice important and 88 percent believe that all birth spacing methods are allowed in Islam.
Back at the council, Councilor Peter Laviña, who alongside Councilor Teresita Mata-Marañon, stands firm against the ordinance.
"I maintain my objection because even though this is not entirely a reproductive health clinic, it still serves as an introduction to RH. Councilor Marañon has maintained that we object to sex education. It tacitly approves abortion," Laviña said.
Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad, proponent of the clinic, said if the resolution will be approved into an ordinance by City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the body assigned to create the clinic's implementing rules and regulation (IRR) would welcome the participation of the religious sectors.
"Their fear is also our fear. Who they want to protect is also who we want to protect," said Librado, City Council committee on women, children, and family relations.
"After this is passed by the mayor, hopefully he will not veto it, we would want the religious group to sit with us in creating the clinic's IRR. I believe the points they're raising can be entertained. If we can never really gain the same ground of understanding from both sides we'd expect respect," Librado said.
Those who voted in favor were Councilors Samuel Bangoy, Tomas Monteverde IV, Nilo Abellera, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, Paolo Duterte, Halila Sudagar, Edgar Ibuyan, Louie John Bonguyan, Diosdado Angelo Mahipus, Karlo Bello, Jose Louie Villafuerte, Ma. Belen Sunga-Acosta, Danilo Dayanghirang, and Librado.
Those who objected were Councilors Peter Laviña, Susan Isabel Reta, and Pilar Braga; while Councilors Dante Apostol, Bonifacio Militar, and Conrado Baluran. Councilors Wilberto Al-ag, Leonardo Avila III, Teresita Mata-Marañon, and Rachel Zozobrado were absent. (JCZ)