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13th Congress Update on Family-Related Bills
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April 7, 2006
Congress Adjourns: Anti-family Bills are Successfully Blocked in Congress
Congress adjourned on Friday, April 7, 2006, right before the Holy Week break, and will stay adjourned for five weeks before resuming on Monday, May 15, 2006.
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Recent highlights of our ongoing battle in the Lower House against the anti-family Bills:
October 10, 2005: On the “Business of the Day” was HB 634 (“The Anti-Discrimination Act”), as approved by the Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights under its Committee Report of Sept. 1, 2005. The Bill was not taken up, but it remains in Plenary for debates and voting. ALFI objected against this Bill because one of its provisions states that it shall be unlawful to “deny an application for a license, clearance, certification or any other document issued by governmental authorities…on the basis of the applicant’s sexual orientation or gender identity; as provided by existing laws.” This can lead to the legalization of same-sex unions. We were not invited to the public hearing(s) and the Committee approved the Bill in May 2005.
December 12, 2005: Second Reading of HB 3773 (“The Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act”) with Sponsorship Speeches at Plenary by the authors. This occurred in the midst of deliberations on the Anti-Terrorism Act and in the last three days of sessions for 2005. Interpellation was not allowed, thereby blocking the progress of the Bills beyond that day’s period of sponsorship.
March 6, 2006: Second Reading of HB 5285 (“The Magna Carta for Women”) with Sponsorship Speeches at Plenary by the authors. The authors took advantage of the celebration in Congress of the March 8 “international Women’s Day.” The Committee on Women approved HB 5285 as Substitute for HB 3766 on Feb. 21, 2006, but pro-family organizations were not invited to the public hearing held last year.
April 4, 2006: HB 3773 was on the Calendar (agenda) again as part of “Unfinished Business.” But the Principal Author, Rep. Josefina M. Joson (1st District, Nueva Ecija), was not present. So the Bill was not taken up.
On the plus side, we have seen in recent months the introduction of additional pro-family bills and a comprehensive Joint Resolution to create a Commission on the Family:
HJR 15 (Creating a Congressional Commission to Review and Assess the State of the Filipino Family)
Author: Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita (1st district, Paranaque)
Why ALFI supports this Joint Resolution: Congress recognizes the efforts of some of its members to “break barriers on cultures and values” by recommending the creation of a Commission that will implement relevant statutes and recommend policy measures to ensure the protection and full development of the family.
Date Filed: March 15, 2006
Status: Pending at the Committee on Rules
Co-Authors of HJR 15 are Vincent “Bingbong” P. Crisologo, Raul V. Del Mar, Roilo S. Golez, Eduardo R. Gullas, Simeon K. Kintanar, Hermilando I. Mandanas, Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, Edmundo O. Reyes, Jr., Antonino P. Roman, Rodolfo G. Valencia and Antonio P. Yapha, Jr.
HB 5327 (The Pregnancy Care Centers Act)
Author: Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita (1st district, Paranaque)
Why ALFI supports HB 5327: This is the true, correct pro-woman Bill because it offers tax credits for private corporations to set up more pregnancy health care centers. In these centers, pregnant women would be given assistance that could include direct care and counseling such as medical attention, nutritional support, housing assistance, adoption services, employment assistance and parenting education and support. These will help women seeking alternatives to family planning clinics, which are often mere distribution venues for contraceptives and abortifacients.
Date Filed: March 7, 2006
Status: No scheduled hearings yet at the Committee on Population and Family Relations
HB 5028 (Rights of Conscience Act)
Author: Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (2nd district, Batangas)
Why ALFI supports HB 5028: it is an effective weapon to counter the provisions of HB 3773 and HB 261 (“Magna Carta of Patient’s Rights and Obligations’) because it recognizes and protects the rights of conscience of our health providers. HB 5028 will protect from harassment any health care professional who refuses to participate in health care services that violate their moral, ethical or religious beliefs.
Date Filed: January 25, 2006
Status: No scheduled hearings yet at the Committee on Health
HB 4643 (Anti-Abortive Drugs and Devices Act)
Author: Rep. Rene M. Velarde (Party-List, Buhay)
Why ALFI supports HB 4643: The Bill will ban the use, production, sale, distribution or dispensation of abortive drugs and devices. ALFI suggests certain changes to strengthen HB 4643 and help ensure that no exemptions are abused or misused, even as we recognize that some drugs may have therapeutic uses for gynecologic conditions while carrying the potential for abortive action.
Date Filed: August 23, 2005
Status: No scheduled hearings yet at the Committee on Revision of Laws
When Congress resumes session from May 15, 2006 to June 9, 2006, it will do so sine die. This means the end of the congressional session. Congress will then adjourn until it resumes again on July 23, 2006. The 13th Congress ends in June 2007.
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