Palace, bishops begin talks on RH Bill

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang and the Church began their exploratory talks yesterday on reproductive health and other social welfare issues.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda led Malacañang officials in the meeting with Bishops Socrates Villegas, Luis Antonio Tagle and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) secretary-general Monsignor Juanito Figura.

Other officials who attended the meeting with the clergy at the PMS building were Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Julia Abad and Health Secretary Enrique Ona.

Lacierda said they discussed the parameters and ground rules for the dialogue. 

“We fixed what should be discussed and the topics were health and social welfare. They were very glad that the dialogue pushed through,” Lacierda told reporters.

Lacierda said the dialogue was quite delayed since the bishops had an earlier meeting with President Aquino.

“But they were looking forward to the next meeting,” he said.

“The next meeting is tentatively set between Dec. 7 and Dec. 15. We also agreed on who will be the participants for the dialogue.”

Lacierda said he would be representing the government along with PMS chief Abad, Ona, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.

The CBCP, on the other hand, has yet to name its representatives to the dialogue, Lacierda said.

He added the bishops would still have to go to the Vatican for a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI before they could focus on the dialogue with Malacañang.

Figura explained the CBCP would still have to determine who will represent them in the dialogue over the issue.

“We will still determine who would speak for the CBCP on matters of health because this is where our lay professionals will be tapped,” Figura said.

Even as Malacañang and Church officials made the effort for a dialogue, Catholic groups expressed their opposition to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

Church-based lay organization Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas will lead a prayer rally today at the Manila Cathedral to show their opposition to the proposal.

The El Shaddai under Bro. Mike Velarde is also set to hold its own prayer vigil on Nov. 27 in Parañaque City to show their support for the Catholic Church over the issue.

Lacierda, on the other hand, said the President remains firm in his position regarding responsible parenthood and the government’s duty to educate its citizens on reproductive health.

“We made it very clear to them that the five-point statement of the President on his position on responsible parenthood is going to stand. So it’s just a matter of letting us know also their advocacies,” he said.

Lacierda said the meeting initially discussed the issues surrounding the RH bill, informing the clergy that the proposed measure is still under the jurisdiction of the legislative department.

“Our position is still on responsible parenthood. That’s all, nothing substantive was discussed, more on the framework of what is going to be the discussions for the series of dialogues next time,”’ Lacierda said.

According to Lacierda, Aquino would later join the dialogues with the bishops to be held at the Bahay Pangarap. He said it would be better to discuss the President’s position on responsible parenthood.

Lacierda said the President is against abortion and in favor of giving couples the right to choose how best to manage their families so that in the end, their welfare and that of their children are best served.

He said the President favors any measure that would respect each individual’s right to follow his or her conscience and religious convictions on matters and issues pertaining to the unity of the family and the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death.

In a situation where couples, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, are in no position to make an informed judgment, the state has the responsibility to provide a range of options and information to couples, and that natural family planning and modern methods shall be presented as equally available. 

“So that’s the position of the President, then as senator and now as President,” Lacierda said. - With Evelyn Macairan