Reproductive Health Bill approved on 2nd Reading

Reproductive Health Bill approved on 2^nd Reading

Despite pressures from the Catholic Church, Reproductive Health bill advocates won a crucial vote early Thursday, December 13, 2012. The bill, stuck in the chamber for 14 years, is a step closer to becoming a law.

Voting 113-104, the House of Representatives approved on second reading the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill shortly past 2 am Thursday. Second reading is the most difficult stage of the legislative process.

The vote, which took more than 5 hours, was close -- proof of how divisive the issue has been. House Bill 4244, after all, seeks to institutionalize access to reproductive health information and services such as contraceptives. Catholic bishops and various religious groups campaigned against it.

A total of 113 lawmakers voted for and 104 lawmakers voted against the measure; 3 abstained.

There were 217 lawmakers who responded to the roll call at about 9 pm. The result was consistent with test votes showing a close vote in favor of the RH bill.

The measure is now one step closer to becoming a law. It only needs to be passed on third and final reading to completely hurdle the House. This is expected to happen on Monday, December 17.

The Senate also agreed to vote on the RH Bill on second reading on Monday, December 17, and if passed, on third reading on Thursday, December 20.

After a viva voce vote early evening on Wednesday, presiding officer Deputy Speaker Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III declared that the "AYE" vote in favor of the RH bill won.

Under the rules of the House of Representatives, approval on 2nd reading only requires a viva voce vote or voice voting. But anti-RH bill Navotas Rep Toby Tiangco questioned the result and moved for a nominal voting.

What is RH Bill?

The Reproductive Health bills, or popularly known as  RH bill, are Philippine Bills aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. It is a way of helping people to be more advance, well prepared, and to widen up each and every individuals mind setting about our society nowadays.

There is this top agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health care, there is great debate on its proposal that we taxpayer and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as birth control pills (BCPs) and IUDs, and as the government continue campaigning to broadcast a good information’s and effect on its use through health care centers nationwide.

Everyone has been talking about this RH bills, for some agreed and some don’t. I could say that in some part of each individuals, RH bills may help and it may brings into some point also that it may trigger to do such thing that will ruin someone’s life. But as the saying goes that every ‘lil thing that is too much is not good. So, it depends on how we’re going to take it and treat it as long as we are only motivated to do well and focus only to what could bring us a healthy and happy life then I think it will help.