MANILA, Oct. 10, 2011—Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo was dismayed upon learning the hefty 2012 proposed budget of the Department of Health (DOH) to implement the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.
“I am deeply saddened. The country has more issues we need to address first. Why is there a proposed budget already when the RH bill is still under debate?” asked Pabillo.
This after Sen. Pia Cayetano, one of Senate Bill 2865’s authors, admitted during floor debates last Tuesday that the DOH had asked for P13.7 billion to implement the RH bill next year.
Filipinos were surprised when they learned of the new figure which was in contrast to what Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman stated months ago.
“We have been checking around with eligible authorities on the adequate budget on the implementation of RH bill, and they are talking about in the vicinity of 3 billion.”
“Why don’t they just help people in need especially now?” said Pabillo, referring to victims of recent typhoons Pedring and Quiel which swept the country, while packing relief goods bound for Nueva Ecija. (CBCP for Life)
