Philippines seeks unity after new birth control law
29 December AFP
President Benigno Aquino's government called for reconciliation on
Saturday after a “divisive” birth control act was signed into law
despite bitter opposition from the influential Catholic church.
Making sex education and contraceptives more widely available to the
poor, the landmark legislation takes effect in mid-January, Aquino's
spokeswoman Abigail Valte said.
“The passage into law of the Responsible Parenthood Act closes a
highly divisive chapter of our history -- a chapter borne of the
convictions of those who argued for, or against this Act,” Valte said in
a statement.
“At the same time, it opens the possibility of cooperation and
reconciliation... engagement and dialogue characterised not by
animosity, but by our collective desire to better the welfare of the
Filipino people.” Both chambers of parliament passed the final version
of the act on December 19 after an acrimonious debate pitting
non-government organisations and women's groups against the country's
dominant church and its lay organisations. Aquino, who was once
threatened with excommunication by church leaders for pushing the bill,
signed the act two days later and said it gives couples the tools and
information needed to plan the size of their families.
Proponents say it will help moderate the nation's rapid population
growth, reduce poverty and bring down its high maternal mortality rate.
Church leaders in the Catholic-majority nation have vowed that the
fight is not over.
Groups allied with the church are expected to challenge the law in
the Supreme Court, while the church itself plans to ask its flock to
oust the supporters of the birth control law in next year's general
election. The Philippines has one of Asia's highest birth rates, with
the United Nations estimating that half of the country's 3.4 million
pregnancies each year are unplanned.
The government's Commission on Women said that maternal mortality
also remains high, with 162 deaths for every 100,000 live births, while
10 women die every day from pregnancy or childbirth-related
complications.
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