Pro-RH bill solons agree to delete controversial provisions

MANILA, Philippines – In a move to avoid further delay in the passage of House Bill 4244 or the Reproductive Health bill (RH bill), its proponents in the House of Representatives have agreed to delete some controversial provisions, according to the bill’s principal author Albay Rep Edcel Lagman.

A week since it voted to terminate the period of debates, the House plenary will begin the period of amendments Tuesday night, August 14. It is the most crucial stage of the legislative mill, when supporters and critics of the bill are allowed to change, delete, or add several provisions.

Lagman, whose mother Cecilia Lagman passed away on Monday, said he will attend the plenary.

RH bill advocates in the House discussed the amendments “to obviate acrimonious debates,” Lagman explained to Rappler.

Here are some of the provisions that the pro-RH bill lawmakers agreed to delete or change in the bill during the period of amendments:

1. Delete Section 20 of the bill which discusses the ideal family size. The provision tasks the State to “encourage” couples to have “two children as the ideal family size.” Lagman said they have decided to “completely delete the provision on the ideal family size, which is not even punitive and compulsory.”

2. Delete Section 21 of the bill which discusses employers’ responsibilities. HB 4244 requires companies with at least 200 employees “to provide reproductive health services to its employees.” Lagman said they can do away with this provision because this is already contained in the Labor Code.

3. Delete the provision that prohibits people from peddling “malicious disinformation” on the bill. The Church attacked this provision as a gag order on people who oppose the measure. Lagman said they agreed to delete it. “We don’t want to curtail freedom of expression. If any trangsgrression is made, we have our libel laws,” he said.

4. Amend Section 15, which requires district representatives to use their pork barrel to fund the proposed “Mobile Health Care Service,” a van or other means transportation that will deliver health care supplies and services to coastal and mountainous areas. Lagman said they will amend it so that the funds will come from the national government.

5. Include a provision that will relax the responsibilities of hospitals owned by the religious.

Lagman said they are discussing other possible amendments but they’re not ready to divulge them yet.

Earlier, critics of the bill have threatened to introduce amendments that will “kill the bill.”

Lagman said they will block “killer amendments,” but they are willing to “accept truly perfecting and refining amendments which will not destroy the essence of the bill.”

Lagman said they cannot allow, for example, an amendment that will allow government to promote only natural methods of family planning. – Rappler.com