Support Reproductive Health (RH) Bill & Senator Pia Cayetano! Philippine Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile shoots down move to tackle RH bill.
My Comments:
I believe the RH Bill in the Philippines is pro-women, pro-poor, pro-life and supports the needs of Philippine socio-economic development.
Let us strongly support the RH Bill and the enlightened senators such as Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor Santiago and others who courageously champion this legislation for family planning in the Philippines.
(Photograph of the progressive and courageous Senator Pia Cayetano from misternow.deviantart.com)
(The controversial Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is not supporting the much-needed RH Bill)
Here below is a disturbing news report today by GMA 7:
My Comments:
I believe the RH Bill in the Philippines is pro-women, pro-poor, pro-life and supports the needs of Philippine socio-economic development.
Let us strongly support the RH Bill and the enlightened senators such as Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor Santiago and others who courageously champion this legislation for family planning in the Philippines.
(Photograph of the progressive and courageous Senator Pia Cayetano from misternow.deviantart.com)
(The controversial Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who is not supporting the much-needed RH Bill)
Here below is a disturbing news report today by GMA 7:
Enrile shoots down move by Pia Cayetano to tackle RH bill
— Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News
A move to advance the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill in the Senate was immediately shot down — by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile himself — on Tuesday afternoon, further damping hopes on its immediate passage.
During the day's session, RH bill co-sponsor Sen. Pia Cayetano asked that the two-year-old bill be tackled for at least 30 minutes before they go on to other priority measures, like the sin tax bill and the proposed budget for 2013.
"I have stated before that I fully support the prioritization of the sin tax bill and the budget, but I would also like to put on record that the RH bill has been pending for almost two years and what I would like to request our colleagues is that we find time to also finish this measure," she told her colleagues on the floor.
The RH measure is in the period of amendments in the Senate, after which senators can vote to pass it on second reading.
But Cayetano said since there are only a few senators who will be seeking amendments, they would only need less than an hour to tackle the controversial measure.
The three senators who manifested their intention to seek amendments are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III, and Senator Ralph Recto.
Enrile, however, said Cayetano should not complain if a bill is not being tackled.
"I have also a bill here that has been pending for 10 years and I am waiting for it to be discussed in this chamber,” Enrile told Cayetano. “I never complained and I don't think there is anyone who can compel any senator to jump simply because they want him to jump."
"I'm ready to defend my position in any debate here so I hope that they will understand that I'm not ready yet to propose an amendment," he added.
But when Cayetano asked him when he will be ready, he said: "I do not know, madam senator, when I'm ready."
Upon hearing this, Cayetano said she is ready to do what it takes to pass the measure. "I think it is also my right as a sponsor to defend this bill, which a lot of people are waiting for," she said.
Enrile, however, said he was not afraid of what she may do.
"I'm ready for any remedy that the gentle lady would like to take if you want to put into a vote [or] that I be censured or be kicked out as Senate president or I be outvoted so be it," he said.
During the day's session, RH bill co-sponsor Sen. Pia Cayetano asked that the two-year-old bill be tackled for at least 30 minutes before they go on to other priority measures, like the sin tax bill and the proposed budget for 2013.
"I have stated before that I fully support the prioritization of the sin tax bill and the budget, but I would also like to put on record that the RH bill has been pending for almost two years and what I would like to request our colleagues is that we find time to also finish this measure," she told her colleagues on the floor.
The RH measure is in the period of amendments in the Senate, after which senators can vote to pass it on second reading.
But Cayetano said since there are only a few senators who will be seeking amendments, they would only need less than an hour to tackle the controversial measure.
The three senators who manifested their intention to seek amendments are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III, and Senator Ralph Recto.
Enrile, however, said Cayetano should not complain if a bill is not being tackled.
"I have also a bill here that has been pending for 10 years and I am waiting for it to be discussed in this chamber,” Enrile told Cayetano. “I never complained and I don't think there is anyone who can compel any senator to jump simply because they want him to jump."
"I'm ready to defend my position in any debate here so I hope that they will understand that I'm not ready yet to propose an amendment," he added.
But when Cayetano asked him when he will be ready, he said: "I do not know, madam senator, when I'm ready."
Upon hearing this, Cayetano said she is ready to do what it takes to pass the measure. "I think it is also my right as a sponsor to defend this bill, which a lot of people are waiting for," she said.
Enrile, however, said he was not afraid of what she may do.
"I'm ready for any remedy that the gentle lady would like to take if you want to put into a vote [or] that I be censured or be kicked out as Senate president or I be outvoted so be it," he said.
I don't see any reason for not supporting RH bill. What Filipinos need is proper education. Some couples are not aware of any contraception which is making our population grow. And these couples are usually from the slums. The people who are not paying taxes and has no jobs yet has so many children. They are burden to the government.
ReplyDeleteSome said that RH bill is just promoting pre-marital sex among the youth. Let's face it, majority of the youth are into pre marital sex and because they don't have knowledge with any form of contraception, they would eventually have unwanted pregnancy and even STDs.
It's about time that the old senators open their minds. If we're not open for change, there will be no progress.