DAVAO City Council deferred the hearing on the reproductive ordinance proposal of Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad who was absent in Tuesday’s regular session.

The hearing could have been a tense one as several oppositors of the proposal, including nuns, were present in the council session hall.

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House Majority Floor Leader Danilo Dayanghirang moved to defer the hearing of Trinidad's proposed ordinance known as the Reproductive Health Ordinance of Davao City.

"We have to defer it because the proponent is absent, including the vice chairman Karlo Bello and Samuel Bangoy who is the chairman on health. We will take up this matter with objectivity and we will vote on it base on the facts presented. It will be in the agenda next week," Dayanghirang assured.

Trinidad's proposed ordinance is being opposed by the Church as it is alleged to be supporting a family planning through contraceptives.

Around 150 people silently lobbied during Tuesday's regular session.

The lobbiers from various civil society groups wore purple shirts and wore attachments that said “No to RH Bill.”

This was arranged via text brigade from one organization to another and between acquaintances, they said.

Councilor Teresita Mata-Marañon, in her privilege speech, said she felt there was a "maneuvering" done on the minutes of the public hearing on Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad's two proposed resolutions supporting the RH Bill.

"When I read the minutes of that public hearing done last May 18, 2009, I noticed that there was an irregularity which obstructs due process. Not a word of my intervention on that hearing was entered into the minutes. I wonder if it was maneuvered by people who are pro-RH," Marañon said.

Marañon said she does not seek for an investigation to be made on the alleged alteration and instead reiterated the points she raised on the said public hearing.

"It's been 30 years na ang Popcom (Population Commission) pino-promote ang artificial contraception but this has never solved poverty. Since 1980's pa ito na-propose ang RH Bill pero hanggang ngayon hindi parin naa-approve, why? Because it is against our belief," Marañon said.

"Nganong ipamugos ninyo ni nga gitindogan kini sa atong Santo Papa, sa atong Arsobispo nga kini dili ni uyon sa atong pagtoo? (Why would you force this when the Pope, the Archbishop have stood that this is against our faith)" Marañon said.

"Ang unod sa kini nga (What's inside this) contraceptive bill is not just on the reproductive health but also matters on the legalization of divorce, abortion, same sex marriage, and euthanasia. If we're forced to choose loyalty to God and loyalty to man, I hope and pray we will choose our God," Marañon said.

Trinidad, proponent of two pro-RH Bill resolutions, was absent from the session.

One of the resolutions seeks a unified stand from the council supporting the passing of bill at the national level. The second, on the other hand, seeks for the creation of a reproductive health clinic in the city.

On the alleged maneuvering of minutes, Council Secretary Leika Lopez said there was no maneuvering made on the minutes of the public hearing.

"It is not the policy of the secretary to make alterations in any of your hearings. We will give you a copy of the tape recording of the hearing," Lopez said to Marañon.

Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang commented on Marañon's speech.

"To say that there was maneuvering made on the minutes without hearing first the side of the secretary is an advanced opposition," Dayanghirang said. "Our ideas may differ but as public servants we must put public service before our own personal opinion. That's all I can say."

Councilor Diosdado Mahipus, however, said the proposed pro-RH Bill resolution is an "unnecessary intervention."

"Since when was it required that local resolutions became the basis for passing a national law? It's like we are unnecessarily dipping our fingers in a controversy that needs to be solved at the national level and not within this level," Mahipus said.

Text brigade

Meanwhile, the groups who lobbied against the RH Bill said they've been monitoring the status of the RH Bill and started with the "text brigade" two weeks ago.

Groups present were the Couple's for Christ, Catholic Women League (CWL), Education for the Upbringing of Children (Educhild), Oppus Dei, DMI, Family Life Apostolate, among others.

When Marañon said she will deliver her speech, they took the initiative to be present during the council session, Marañon said through text.

"Last last week pa nagsimula ang pag-text brigade at kami, with other organizations, we really are against the RH Bill. We are pro-God," said CWL-San Pablo Parish vice president Anacia Quizon.

"Kami mismo dito hindi namin kilala lahat ng mga nag-sipunta. We do not know everybody but we all know we do not want the RH Bill to be passed," said Educhild regional chair Robert Quinto.

"I am a businessman but I came here on my personal stand that we must not pass the RH Bill," said Quinto, also former executive vice president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

In the proposed ordinance though, there was no mention of the use of artificial birth control methods. What was mentioned in the proposal was the use of legal and medically safe family planning methods.

The proposed ordinance calls for the creation of the reproductive health care clinic under the City Health Office. The clinic will provide services in the delivery and care of the newborn babies, reproductive health and family planning education.

Back in 2007, Councilor Trinidad already said she will be pushing for the passage of the ordinance establishing a reproductive health clinic in the 15th City Council.

Trinidad, who is the chairman of the City Council committee on women, children and family relations, said the center is aimed at comprehensively addressing the reproductive health concerns of city residents -- including men.

She said only a few men understand about vasectomy while a good number of women have undergone ligation or encouraged by spouses to under ligation.

Making reproductive health services accessible and available to many is also one of the goals of the center. A budget of P12 million is being eyed for the initial set-up of the clinic. (BOT/With Jade C. Zaldivar)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on November 4, 2009.