Philippines: Arroyo will not interfere in moves to pass reproductive health bill

The Roman Catholic Church still has a great deal of power in determining Philippine policy on matters such as abortion and contraception. The only approved method is the Rhythm method or abstinence. Condoms are not advertised. Strangely enough neither is Viagra or Cialis. Perhaps the Church has deemed that God decreed erectile dysfunction is natural and God sanctioned for those getting older and thou shalt not get a hard on unnaturally just as one should not interfere with the sperm whose natural mission is to penetrate the egg. Eyeglasses are OK though folks since God intended us to see. Nature can be helped in the case of failing eyesight but Nature did not intend that dirty old men with floppy penises should be helped out in their disgusting quest for sex!


GMA won’t interfere in moves to pass bill on reproductive health
Genalyn D. KabilingPresident Arroyo is standing firm on her policy on natural family planning but she would not interfere in revitalized moves to pass a population management bill in Congress.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said yesterday the President will let lawmakers debate on the reproductive health bill that reportedly promotes the use of artificial contraception to curb the country’s growing population, adding it was still premature to say if the Chief Executive would exercise her veto powers.
"The President has a clear policy that she is against artificial means of family planning. She’s very consistent with that," he said in government-run Radyo ng Bayan. "Now since the matter is now in Congress, then we will leave that to Congress to make that determination," he added.
While she may have her own beliefs, Dureza said the President respects the independence of the legislature on the matter of crafting a law on reproductive health. "We will respect whatever decision of the majority members of Congress when they take a vote on that particular bill," he said.
Dureza said he could not yet say if the President would refuse to sign into law the population management bill in case it sails through both houses of Congress.
"It’s too premature yet as of this time to even make a determination or make a position on whether there will be a veto or not. Let’s wait for the results of the work of the legislature," he said.
Recently, two lawmakers have withdrawn their support for the reproductive health bill due to the provision promoting contraceptives. Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez admitted he influenced Western Samar Rep. Reynaldo Uy and Sharee Ann Tan to drop the bill.
The President has been largely criticized by some sectors for following the Catholic Church’s line on natural family planning methods which have been blamed for the rise in the country’s population. Mrs. Arroyo is a devout Catholic mother of three children.
Government critics have warned that the runaway population would worsen poverty and derail the economic development in the country.