Rep. Edcel C. Lagman

Independent – Albay

12 December 2012

0916-6406737 / 0918-9120137

             The passage of House Bill 4244 or the Reproductive Health Bill is a signal victory for Filipino women and children who will reap the benefits of improved maternal and infant health which the bill seeks to guarantee.

             I laud the courageous Representatives who stood their ground and refused to be intimidated by the presence of Catholic bishops in the Plenary Hall today. They have indeed proven that the voice of the people is the voice of God.

            Finally, the Representatives of the people have spoken in accord with their constituents who have long favored the enactment of the bill.

            These legislators are truly the guardians of the peoples’ rights, health and sustainable development, and not centurions of the dominant church.

Today, reason triumphed over fanaticism; logic over dogma; and hope over fear.

              We have prevailed over a well-funded campaign to demonize the RH bill because we have unshakable faith in our cause – that every child born deserves to be planned and wanted; that women should not die from unplanned, mistimed and high risk pregnancies; that people must have the right to decide when and how often they want to become parents; and that sustainable human development and genuine progress cannot be achieved if the Philippines does not address its population problem.

             We could not have achieved this victory without the unwavering support of the NGO community and civil society groups as well our partners in the tri-media and social media. The authors of the bill are truly grateful for their invaluable encouragement and endorsement.

             We also thank President Aquino for his steadfast endorsement of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Bill and the House of Representatives' leadership under Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II for delivering on their commitment to have the bill voted upon.