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By Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter
A controversial reproductive health measure
passed on second reading last week by Quezon City must be given the
chance to succeed if it is passed into an ordinance, a councilor of
the city said over the weekend.
“Read first the ordinance before you crucify
us.” This was the appeal made by Quezon City Majority Floor Leader
Ariel Inton to the continued objection and criticism hurled by some
sectors, particularly the Catholic Church, on the reproductive
health ordinance, which was passed on second reading last week.
In an interview, Inton said members of the city
council decided to approve the “QC population and reproductive
health management policy” on the second reading, but only after
giving it several revisions.
“If they [critics] will only read the new
version of the ordinance, they can see that there have been many
revisions particularly on certain provisions they have raised during
the public hearing called by the city council last December,”
Inton explained.
The ordinance was authored by Councilor Joseph
Juico.
Among the changes made by the council is the
exclusion of elementary students in the teaching of reproduction.
That subject will be taught only to high-school students.
Under the original measure, reproductive health
would be included in the curriculum of public school students from
Grade 5 to fourth-year high school.
The provision regarding imprisonment and fines
against those who will not implement the ordinance was also
scrapped.
Pro-life, not pro-abortion
“We want to tell the Church and those sectors
against the measure that all the concerns they raised earlier have
already been considered and addressed, and the new version will be
acceptable to them,” Inton said, adding the city council is
pro-life. Supporters of the measure even claim it does not encourage
abortion.
The Catholic Church has been very vocal against
the passage of the ordinance which they claimed is “anti-life,”
imperils “the sanctity of human life and the family,” and
“kills unborn children.”
Another circular was issued by Cubao Bishop
Honesto Ongtioco on Sunday reiterating the Church’s stand against
the measure.
Members of the city council is set to approve
today in the third and final reading the ordinance which will be
forwarded to Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte for signature.
Once approved, the council will formulate the
implementing rules and regulation, and all sectors, including the
Church, will be invited for the crafting of the guidelines.
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