Rep. George Arnaiz (2nd district, Negros Oriental) has strongly expressed his opposition to the proposed Reproductive Health Bill, now dubbed as the Responsible Parenthood Bill.
He said the bill is not necessary and it only creates division among government leaders and some concerned sectors in the country.
Rep. Arnaiz said there are a lot of salient features in the Responsible Parenthood Bill that should be properly discussed because it can create confusion as it would appear to help empower women.
He even favors the move of the Provincial Commission on Women in Negros Oriental to distribute copies of the bill to the different women’s organizations so that they will understand every section of it.
Arnaiz said the bill consistently gives the local government units the bulk of the job in its implementation in case the bill will be passed into law. He said it is unfair for the LGUs since they were not consulted whether the Responsible Health Bill would be advantageous or considered by them as a priority program.
The solon said he strongly disagrees with the move to make contraceptives as part of “essential medicines” because being pregnant is not a sickness but a blessing. The bill will never be a solution to overpopulation and poverty in the country, Arnaiz said.
He said the P3 billion allocated in case the bill is passed into law should be used instead to improve the country’s education system by building more classrooms, hiring more teachers and uplifting the quality of education in the country.
Arnaiz said he would rather have the budget allocated for the purchase of medicines for sick children with cancer, tuberculosis and heart problems and for improving the health system. (PNA/Maricar Aranas)