The Philippine Online Chronicles

President Benigno Aquino III favors the passage of the Responsible Parenthood (RP) bill, despite risking the ire of some leaders of the Catholic Church.

“I am certain that the RP bill will pass into law,” he said in a speech during University of the Philippines’ commencement exercises. “I am aware that there are those who are against this, but it is my obligation as a leader to approach all sectors, to speak with them and explain the situation to them clearly—even if some of them say that I should be excommunicated.”

The RP bill is a different version of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill which stipulates mandatory sex education and the making available of contraceptives.

The influential Catholic Church has largely opposed the passage of the RH bill, prompting the government to put forward the RP bill, which deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte has said neither favors the Catholic Church or the RH bill advocates.

“We have to listen to all even to those whose minds are already closed,” Aquino added, referring to the Church’s strong stance against artificial family planning. “But in the end, I have to make the decision. I have to follow my conscience. I have to do what is correct.”

He added that the RP bill is a “reorientation” of the RH bill, adding that the two bills shared “lot of common grounds.”

“There is a need to reorient, refocus and empower Filipino couples and provide them with full public information regarding the natural and artificial methods of family planning, and consult the individual religious entities where they belong,” said Aquino.

Valte earlier said that the RP bill would focus on disseminating information on family planning especially to poor Filipinos. The bill would also put forward the setting up of both artificial and natural family planning centers.

“We really believe that [family planning] will be best left to the discretion and decision of the parents themselves,” Aquino said.

Aquino’s speech came in the wake of an announcement by the European Union (EU) that it is willing to provide up to 35 million euros for poor Filipinos to gain access to contraceptives.