by ODON S. BANDIOLA
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan has approved on third and final reading during its 28th Regular Session on August 15, 2012 a local ordinance on universal health care and community health teams operation minus the controversial provisions on modern family planning methods and contraceptives.
The Aklan SP passed Special Ordinance No. 2012-011 titled” An Ordinance Establishing Systems and Mechanisms to Ensure Implementation of the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (KP) and Supporting Sustained Community Health Team (CHT) Operations”.
A Department of Health (DOH) initiative, the original version of the ordinance included in its provisions the implementation of modern family planning methods and services, the distribution of commodities such as pills, condoms and other injectables.
The original version of the ordinance attracted the attention of a pro-life advocate, SP member Phoebe Clarice L. Cabagnot who promptly questioned the controversial provision of the ordinance on contraceptives and modern family planning methods which to her maybe abortive or abortifacients.
In two technical working group sessions and a series of hearings of the SP Committee on Laws, Rules and Ordinances and the Committee on Health and Social Services, Cabagnot was joined by pro-lifers Rev. Fr. Josue Ruiz Escalona, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel S. Mijares, Msgr. Adolfo P. Depra and other lay leaders of the religious sector.
The pro-life advocates deleted provisions on contraceptives and modern family planning methods which may ultimately prove abortive and abortifacients.
The proponents of the original version, Dr. Victor A. Santamaria and Dr. Cornelio Cuachon of the Provincial Health Office tried to save the controversial provision but were prevailed upon.
The sanitized version of the ordinance gained the nod of the two SP Committees which recommended for its approval in the 28th SP Regular Session. /MP
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