GABRIELA Solons: As RH Bill Gathers Momentum, Bias For Poor Women Must Be Emphasized

Gabriela Women’s Party Representatives Luz Ilagan and Emmi De Jesus lauded today the approval of the Reproductive Health Bill at the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations as a victory for Filipino women and a challenge to further the struggle for healthcare and services.

"Today's approval of the RH Bill is another step forward in the assertion of women's rights to quality health care, and what we saw today was a spirit of jubilation from the broad range of groups and individuals supporting this process,” said De Jesus.

“It is high time. The approval of the RH Bill is but an appropriate response to poor women’s clamor for healthcare and basic social services. Amid growing poverty, what we need is to institute a government policy that will ensure that women and children are given access to information and healthcare,” said Ilagan.

The Gabriela solons, proponents of the Comprehensive Reproductive Health Bill which was consolidated along with five other measures on Reproductive Health believe that the bill will continue to gather steam in the legislative mill as more and more women from thegrassroots actively lobby for the measure.

"What we foresee is a continuing gathering of the RH momentum which will ensure passage at the plenary as well as in the bicameral proceedings in the near future. Beyond this then, what we need to safeguard is its pro-poor orientation. This means access to RH services, programs and products that are safe, scientific, culturally appropriate and affordable. To this end that RH becomes a reality for poor women.” #