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CBCP wants realignment of contraceptives budget

November 18, 2017, 8:48 pm

MANILA -- An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Public Affairs Committee (CBCP-PAC) said that the funds intended for buying pills and condoms should be aligned in helping poor Filipinos to have access to hospitals and other benefits.

CBCP-PAC executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano was reacting on the impending implementation of Reproductive Health (RH) Law after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that the two contraceptive products covered by the temporary restraining order (TRO) of the Supreme Court are not abortifacient or cannot cause abortion.

“Is it really sound to pour in billions for the procurement of pills and condoms while many Filipinos don’t even have access to real medicines when they get sick?” he asked.

“Can these “non-abortifacients” be an alternative for food and shelter which the Filipinos truly need?” the Catholic priest added.

With this, the CBCP-PAC official noted that they will monitor the implementation of RH Law if it will help stop poverty in the country.

“Let’s see whether RH Law once implemented will indeed curb poverty in our country,” Secillano said.

Over PHP300 million has been allocated by the House of Representatives in its version of the 2018 General Appropriations Act for the implementation of the controversial law.

The Catholic Church has repeatedly rejected RH law, saying that it is not pro-people and not pro-God. (Ferdinand G. Patinio/PNA)

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