GWP to CBCP: There is Always a Favourable Atmosphere for Dialogue

“There is always a favourable atmosphere for dialogue if it is about respect for human rights and recognition of the voice and needs of marginalized and disadvantaged Filipinos,” said Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Emmi De Jesus, in response to CBCP secretary general Monsignor Figura's statement saying they are still studying the situation if there is a favorable atmosphere for a dialogue when the Gabriela Women's Party invited the church for a dialogue on the RH bill.

“We believe there is still room for creating a third platform, where the best interests of women and children are held in equally high regard. We also believe that the church must pay attention to women's voices because a look around the pews on Sundays will reveal that they comprise the majority of today's church goers," added the Gabriela solon.

"A pro-poor church can surely appreciate the pro-poor provisions of the bill that includes health professionals being required to render 48 hours of pro bono reproductive health services to indigent women annually. If passed into law, this means that an estimated half a million indigent pregnant women will be able to avail of free monthly pre-natal check ups for the whole 9-months' term of their pregnancy, Imagine the number of lives of both mothers and infants that this provision alone can save." explained Rep. De Jesus.

"Both the Catholic church and the Gabriela Women’s Party believe there is no room for a population control agenda in the reproductive health bill as it is inequity and social injustice that are at the root of poverty. GWP however, remains firm in its stand that Congress should craft a pro-poor, pro-women, rights based and comprehensive reproductive health bill. Our intent at dialogue with the church stems from the conviction that marginalized women have long been suffering from lack of access to quality health care services that has been neglected by the State, including the current Aquino administration with its very meager budget for the health sector. A wide platform for dialogue where this problem is held at the core of our common concerns should be built and developed,” ended De Jesus.###