I had first read House Bill 4244 or the Reproductive Health Bill last year when it gained popularity and had been for it since. In the wee hours of the morning, it finally passed through the second reading in the House of Representatives by a margin on 9. Honestly, I had no idea where this will take the RH Bill, and fortunately, the Official Gazette (PH Government's official website, yes we have one) has published a flow chart on how a a law is made.
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| Photo taken from here Click link to learn about our legislative body |
Based on the diagram, the RH Bill will now go to the Third Reading (scheduled for next week, I believe) and once approved, shall be transmitted to the Senate to go through another three readings, before going to the President for final action.
So I went to dinner with my friends and got home at around 2300. I open my twitter just in time to catch the beginning of the individual votes. I follow ANC on Twitter and they were tweeting lines of the Congressmen addressing the house and voting. After the fifth ridiculous tweet I read (which I couldn't retweet since 140 chars aren't enough for the line, and my reaction) I decided to simply write a wrap-up post to release my frustrations, musings, and/or appreciation. I compiled my "favorite" tweets from last night's preceedings.
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| This was all I could say last night |
The heightened issue of reproductive health, specially the RH Bill can be attributed to the fact that our nation is predominantly Catholic and that CBCP (some followers and idiot legislators) cannot grasp the concept of the separation of the Church and State. Most of the nay arguements, which coincidentally are also some of the most hilarious, laughable and hypocritical statements during the votation are anchored on morality and religion, most particularly Catholicism.
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| See what I mean when I say hyprocritical?
ANAD Rep Jun Alcover (Double no? Evil? What are you, grade 3?), Pampanga Rep Mikey Arroyo (pero kaluluwa mo naisuko mo na sa demonyo?), Manila Rep Armando Bagatsing (minsan, try mo buksan ang isip mo), Cebu City Rep Rachel Del Mar, Cebu Rep Eduardo Gullas, Antique Rep Paolo Javier, Ating-Koop Rep Isidro Lico, Ilocos Norte Rep Imelda Marcos (how do you categorize Martial Law?), CDO Rep Rufus Rodriguez, Iloilo Rep Augusto Syjuco (bwahahahaha!)
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| AAMBIS-OWA Rep Sharon Garin understands that the RH Bill is not a religion thing. Maguindanao and Cotabato Rep Bai Sandra Sema, a Muslim saying yay for the Bill (same goes for Sulu Rep Tupay Loong). We must remember that this is the Republic of the Philippines, not the Republic of the Catholic Church |
Although there were a handful of congressmen who made sense, pointing out that there currently exist laws that could cover those intended for by the RH Bill.
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| Statements of Bacolod Rep Anthony Golez, Zambales Rep Mitos Magsaysay. Camiguin Rep Pedro Rumualdo, Leyte Rep Ferdinand Rumualdez and Surigao del Norte Rep Guillermo Romarate seemed to copy each other's statements. |
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| Bill Proponent Albay Rep Edcel Lagman citing that there are substantial provisions in RH Bill not found in existing laws |
Unfortunately, many solons seemed uninformed on what the provisions of the bill are. Either that or they just really do not (did not bother to) understand the bill.
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| Siquijor Rep Orlando Fua, Quezon Rep Danilo Suarez , Davao Rep Karlo Nograles seem to have all read a phantom statement that the bill is for population control |
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| Rep Nograles (again) and People's Champ er- Saranggani Rep Manny Pacquiao say they are pro-life yet say no to RH bill. :| |
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| Tarlac Rep Susan Yap, CIBAC Rep Sherwin Tugna and COOP NATCCO Rep Cresente Paez are not saying that RH Bill is the solution, but it is part. |
I did find some apprehensions coming from Anti-RH valid, and hope that due to the high publicity of this issue, these apprehensions be addressed.
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| Cagayan Rep Randolph Ting points out that responsible parenthood is, well, the responsibility of the parents. Also, Pasig Rep Roman Romulo points out the need for the delicate handling of sex education. |
Two sensible anti statement, however, do not make up for the selfishness carried from the statements of some solons.
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| Cam Norte Rep Renato Unico and Bukidnon Rep Jesus Paras are grateful that RH Bill was inexistent when they were born. Otherwise, their parents would have known better than to conceive children such as theirselves. Oh, and (my) Cavite Rep Lani Mercado-Revilla, just didn't want to share the previledge of having access to contraceptives to less fortunate Filipinas. |
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| At least Pangasinan Rep Kimi Cojuangco and Mandaluyong Rep Neptali Gonzales are empathetic to plight of Filipinas |
And there were some (who gave me hope) who knew what their role as Congressmen was. They are called the "House of Representatives" for a reason.
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| Rizal Rep Joel Duavit, Nueva Ecija Rep Josefina Joson, [statements not screencapped] North Cotabato Rep Nancy Catamco, Muntinlupa Rep Rodolfo Biazon, Dasmarinas Rep Elpidio Barzaga, Quezon Rep Irvin Alcala all voted YES citing that their votes represent their constituents |
Although Albay Rep Al Bichara, seem to think taking the voice of the people must be after the fact.
Pro RH congressman Kho also delivered one of the saddest commentaries in the Philippine Legislation.
But at the end of the day (night), there were two solons who appear to be the most idiotic and members of the 15th Congress.
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| Nueva Ecija Rep Rodolfo Antonino and Davao Oriental Rep Thelma Almario seem to think that it is good to make the Philippines a baby factory, then ship off the products around the world like we do fruits and commodities. I can feel the love! </3 |
<3, dee
PS,
If you have no time to read the full text of the bill (I skipped the entire first page!) I refered to this atricle by Rappler to better understand what I was reading.
Follow Manolo Quezon on Twitter. He posts links to interesting historical articles relating to current happenings. He's the Undersecretary of Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning, the Editor-in-Chief of Official Gazette online and Pres. Manuel L. Quezon's grandson.
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