NGO appeals to Catholic Church, anti-RH bill to give it a chance

TACLOBAN CITY- A non-government organization based in the city issued its appeal to the Catholic Church and other sectors opposing the reproductive health (RH) bill to give it a chance and for Congress to pass it.

Betty Garido, executive director of the Leyte Family Development Organization (Lefado), said that the RH bill has no ill intentions but rather help women, particularly those who are pregnant.

“It is not a pro-abortion bill. We are also opposing abortion. The RH bill will ensure protection of our women’s health, specially our pregnant mothers,” Garido said.

Garido, whose group is advocating both modern and natural family planning methods, said that it is not fair to say that the RH bill will promote abortion.

“They have to prove it first,” she said.

According to Garido, the couple should be allowed on what to do and how many children they want to raise.

Also, the Lefado executive director said, with still a struggling economy, we cannot allow our population to increase.

“With a burgeoning population, our resources to include opportunities are getting scarce. And it is unfortunate that those with so many children to raise come from poor families,” Garido said.

“Who will cloth their children? Who will provide them food? Let us not depend so much to our government,” she added.

The Catholic Church is leading in the fight against the passage of the measure calling it “anti-life” as they claimed it
to promote abortion and even promiscuity among young adult as it would allow the use of contraceptives like condom.
Congress has yet to deliberate on the fate of the measure.

Congressmen from this region have already expressed their opposition against the measure, partly due to the “request” of the Church.

Earlier, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez of the diocese of Calbayog had admitted that he is making a personal appeal and been calling solons from Samar for them not to vote the RH bill.

But Garido said that their group is also doing their own act for Congress to eventually pass it.

She said that they have gathered thousands of signatures which they submitted to congressmen from this region, in particular.

This way, the solon would know that there are also individuals from the region who are supportive of the RH bill.

“We are really confident that Congress will eventually pass the RH bill,” Garido said.

By Joey A. Gabieta
Staff Writer

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