Philippine parliament will have impassé on Reproductive Health Bill

HOUSE Speaker Prospero Nograles on Wednesday said he was so torn between two groups of lawmakers bickering over the reproductive health bill that he was seeking a compromise to resolve the impassé.

The 132 champions of House Bill 5043, led by its principal author Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, have threatened to block the passage of the new tax bills if the reproductive health bill if not calendared for approval in the remaining nine session days of Congress.

 But those against the bill had also threatened to do the same if it was calendared, Nograles said. Those against the bill are a group of lawmakers led by Rep. Roilo Golez and Cebu Reps. Raul del mar and Pablo Garcia.

Both groups have threatened to raise questions on the impending new tax bills and the Constitutional Convention bill until the House runs out of time to pass any of them.

Supporters of the RH bill want family planning methods to be made available to all to help families space their children and to cut the country’s high population growth. Those opposed, including the powerful Catholic Church, want only the natural family planning methods.

Lagman said the 132 authors of the RH bill would take turns raising questions on the tax bills to run down the clock.

Congress resumes session on Monday, Jan.18, when lawmakers have only nine session days left to pass critical bills.

But Nograles vowed to meet with the warring groups on Monday before the session begins.

“We will reason with each other and arrive at a solution. Politics is always the art of compromise,” Nograles said.

“The other group (the antis) also threatened same style and tactic. I am torn between two lovers.” Christine F. Herrera.