Population group, solemnizing ministers pushing for RH Bill passage
BACOLOD CITY -- A group of local ministers officiating marriage here joins the League of Population Officers and Workers in the Philippines (LEPOWPHIL) in pushing for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.
The Community of Solemnizing Officers (CSO), a multi-denominational group of preachers and professionals license to conduct marriage in the country, said they are supporting for the passage of House Billl 4110 and stressed the freedom of the couples to exercise their choice- scientific or natural method, in planning their family.
West Negros University Social Science Professor Joy Vingno and Executive committee head of CSO said "we leave the matter to the bedroom of the husband and wife in their own privacy to adopt and practice RH program of the government which include both natural and modern methods of spacing or management of the family size according to their own belief, education and wisdom."
He said their stand on the issue is anchored on sound philosophical tenets and on Philippine constitution.
"Whatever human positive law in the Ethical Philosophy either by the church or state, the CSO is following the constitutional provision of Art. 2 Sec. 6 and Art. 3 Sec.5 where freedom of religion is enjoyed here in our society by all sects equally, regardless of size without discrimination to any by historic European-Hispanic hegemony.
Earlier, the LEPOWPHIL cited the health of the women as one of the pressing reasons why RH bill should be passed.
According to the study of Guttmacher Institute in 2006, ten mothers die everyday due to pregnancy and child birth complications while one out of six women has an unmet need for family planning.
"We know the sufferings of women in the community and their desire to access reproductive health services," LEPOWPHIL national president Evangeline Golveque, said (PIA-LOL)