Despite the opposition of some senators who wanted to amend certain passages in the controversial and divisive Reproductive Health (RH) bill, the Senate on Tuesday voted to keep the line a "safe and satisfying sex life" for Filipinos in defining the term.
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Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile had moved to remove the line a "safe and satisfying sex life" in defining reproductive health, but the upper chamber rejected the proposed amendment with a vote of 11-6.
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Senate Bill 2865 defines reproductive health as "the state of complete, physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. This implies that people are able to have a safe and satisfying sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. This further implies that women and men attain equal relationships in matters related to sexual relations are reproduction."
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Enrile wanted to remove the sentence "This implies that people are able to have a safe and satisfying sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so."
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"There's no need for this statement... This should not be a concern of the state," he said.
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Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III echoed Enrile's concern, saying the right is already within people's rights.
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"Wala ba tayo ngayon niyan? We can decide if, when, and how to do so. Bakit kailangan ilagay sa batas yun? Ang sagwa. I will not be a part of that," said Sotto.
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Senator Ralph Recto chimed in with: "Will it affect the right of couples to plan their family size?"
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Senator Francis Escudero, for his part, favored the sentence within the definition of terms.
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Senator Pia Cayetano, co-sponsor of the bill, said they can vote against it but, "We ensure that a couple has that right, and no one else."
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The Senate also rejected Enrile's proposal to remove the word "pleasurable" from the definition of sexual health.
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The bill defines sexual health as "a state of physical mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free from coercion, discrimination and violence."
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In a 12-4 vote, the chamber also rejected Enrile's proposal to insert the provision:
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"The DOH, with the assistance and support of the DOST, shall make sure that no reproductive health supply which will be used for medical purposes only shall be sold or be distributed free of charge by any person at any place without having been thoroughly tested and certified to be medically safe; provided, that, nothing in this section shall be used to justify the purchase of reproductive health supplies which will be used for abortive purposes."
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Cayetano, however, accepted Enrile's amendment to insert abortifacients ? a substance or device that induces abortion ? in the items that national and local hospitals, provincial, city, and municipal health offices, and rural health units should not buy.
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"[This will] ensure that this bill will not in any way be used to acquire abortifacients," Enrile noted.
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Cayetano also accepted Enrile's proposal to insert a provision mandating the Department of Health to employ "experts in natural family planning who shall provide the necessary training for all barangay health workers."
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The period of amendments is still ongoing as of this posting. ? VS, GMA News
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