Amidst the growing protest against the proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made clear her stand on this issue during her State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28.
In her SONA, the President cited that promoting natural family planning is effective than pushing the artificial birth control method. “By promoting natural planning and female education, we have curbed population growth to 2.04% during our administration, down from the 2.36 in the 1990’s, when artificial birth control was pushed,” said President Arroyo.
Hinting that the development of our nation could be affected by overpopulation, she stressed on the role of parents in this concern and the campaign should be on the awareness “of responsible parenthood regarding birth spacing.”
“Therefore informed choice should mean letting more couples, who are mostly Catholics, know about natural family planning,” the president stressed.
The President’s stand on this issue came timely as more than 15,000 gathered at the St. Joseph Cathedral grounds last July 30, to protest against the proposed House Bill
The crowd were mostly students and teachers from the different schools in the city, mandated Church organization, government officials, among others
They also called upon Bohol’s three congressmen not to sign the proposed bill in Congress and be consistent pro-life legislators.
The activity started with a prayer march from 5 different areas in the city, en route to the Cathedral grounds where a prayer rally was held.
Capping the rally was a Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Leonardo Medroso along with priests and religious from the Diocese of Tagbilaran. (PIA/Bohol)