By Jojo Malig, abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine society remains divided on the reproductive health (RH) bill, if the heated debate on "Harapan" aired by ABS-CBN and ANC on Sunday night is any indication.
Key proponents of movements either supporting or rejecting the RH bill took part in the discussion, which was hosted by Julius Babao and Karen Davila.
The debate sought to clarify issues about the bill now pending in Congress, amid vitriol spilled by both sides on social media, the pulpit, on the streets, and elsewhere.
House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, one of the proponents of the measure now called Responsible Parenthood-Reproductive Health Bill, fired the first salvo in the debate.
He cited United Nations data showing that 11 women in the country die every day due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
He also mentioned surveys made by Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia showing that a majority of Filipinos support the RH bill. "Ang RH bill ay hindi tungkol sa religion. Ito ay tungkol sa karapatan, kalusugan, at kaunlaran," he said.
Lagman added that it is not only about contraceptives but also maternal health, abortion prevention, HIV-AIDS management prevention, and efforts to stamp out violence against women.
Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, who is opposing the bill, took the opposite road and said he and the other guests would not be present at the debate if their mothers followed family planning.
He also claimed that contraceptives raise breast cancer rates and do not prevent HIV infections, citing Thailand.
Golez also said the Philippines' population growth rate is going down. "Di na kailangan ng RH para bumaba."
He and Lagman would trade barbs later on during the debate over Golez's statistical data, with his fellow lawmaker from Bicol accusing him of fabricating figures.
The 2 legislators were not the only ones on the hot seat.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' Fr. Melvin Castro drew raised eyebrows when he said tubal ligation, a popular medical method involving the cutting women's Fallopian tubes to prevent them from becoming pregnant again, is considered as a sin by the church.
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