President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III will not change his stand on responsible parenthood despite the Catholic Church's opposition to the use of artificial birth control methods, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
In an interview with reporters in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino, a Catholic, has always supported responsible parenthood and informed choice in family planning.
"Even during the [the presidential] campaign the president already stated his position on the matter. It's more of responsible parenthood, we believe that parents should be the one to decide on the size of their family, the manner and the method by which the planning should be done," Lacierda said.
The presidential spokesman said Aquino respects that parents are "the ultimate decision-maker on the size of the family."
"Ibinibigay ho natin sa ating mga kababayan ang mga kaparaanan sa family planning (We are letting the public decide their preferred family planning method)," he said.
Dialogue with the CBCP
Lacierda, who was also Aquino's spokesman during the campaign period, noted that Aquino sent the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) a letter in February.
Lacierda said Aquino offered to hold a dialogue with the CBCP president to explain his stance on reproductive health.
Aquino's camp does not know what became of the offer but the president remains ready to explain his position, said Lacierda.
"Handa po siyang ipaliwanag sa mga kaparian ang kanyang posisyon sa family planning (He is ready to explain to the priests his stance on family planning)," said the Palace spokesman.
Aquino drew Church's ire
Aquino's stand on reproductive health drew criticism from the Catholic Church once more when he said in a meeting with a Filipino community in San Francisco that the government is obliged to inform the public of their reproductive health and family planning choices.
Aquino said couples would be in the "best position to determine what is best for their families" and the methods that they can use.
The Catholic Church promotes only natural family planning and is opposed to the use of artificial birth control methods such as condoms and birth-control pills, saying these could lead to promiscuity and a rise in abortion cases.
The Aquino administration has so far been vocal about its pro-choice stand despite the church's opposition.
Government supports artificial contraceptives In July, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona said the government supports artificial contraceptives and a range of choices offered to couples.
“I call for the acceleration of efforts that shall champion reproductive health," Ona told a gathering of mostly reproductive health (RH) advocates.
When asked later if those efforts included government funds for artificial contraceptives in government health centers, he replied in the affirmative and indicated these would be among “cafeteria of choices" that would also include natural family planning methods.
A reproductive health bill that would have required the national government to offer artificial contraceptives to the public and make sex education in public schools mandatory did not flourish in previous Congresses due to opposition from the church and its legislative allies.
Lacierda said Aquino's support for responsible parenthood does not mean he will automatically back a new reproductive health bill in Congress.
Lacierda pointed out that Aquino had reservations about the RH bill filed in the previous Congress. He said the president will still have to study new legislative initiatives on reproductive health.
Responsible parenthood and the US aid
The Palace official described as "unfair" and "below the belt" Fr. Melvin Castro's reported charge that the president's support for responsible parenthood is linked to the $434-million grant from Millennium Challenge Corporation for Philippine social welfare programs.
Castro was quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying the government is "selling out the Filipino soul" for "that measly sum of money in the name of fighting poverty."
Lacierda reiterated that the government is open to a dialogue with the Catholic church on reproductive health. "Kung nais po nilang humingi ng dialogo sa pangulo, bukas po kami (If they want a dialogue with the president, we are open to it)." — LBG/VVP
