Ang Magiting - The Official Web Site of Rotary Club Makati North

SEC. ESPIE CABRAL ON HB 5043

By Dir. Bob Hecks
February 11, 2009

“I’m a doctor but I don’t look at this as a medical issue. It’s a rights issue.” Our guest speaker, Sec. Esperanza Cabral made it clear that she supports the right of families to decide how many children they will have and that it is the government’s duty to help with education so that couples may exercise that right. That label, HB 5043, is becoming well known as the number of the Reproductive Health bill which is slowly progressing through Congress.

Pres. Klink’s President’s Time was allocated by him to a presentation by Margarethe Gloor about Wheelmobile, a project of the Circle of Friends Foundation Inc. to help wheelchair-bound people to get around. Ms. Gloor was deputizing for PP Dieter Brueckner. Espie Cabral listened intently.

But Pres. Klink did refer to his message in `Ang Magiting’ about what a big week it is for RCMN it is this week. Apart from today’s Classification Talk by Danny Rayos del Sol (an “eggciting” event), we are hosting we are hosting the golf event 4th Leg of The Governor’s Cup at Villamor tomorrow February 18, as PP Joe Reaño later reminded us. Then on Friday there is the L.E.A.P. Congress at the University of Makati. Daisy dela Torre later outlined that for us.

Daisy also introduced our guest speaker, welcoming her and former RCMNer Bien back to our club. Daisy particularly mentioned how favorably public opinion perceives Espie’s performance as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Reproductive Health bill is something that the country urgently needs, believes Sec. Espie. Back in November 2008, Espie made it clear that being a member of the cabinet of Pres. GMA did not inhibit her from expressing her support for a measure that will help to relieve so much suffering and help limit a too-rapid growth in the population. The bill allows government to educate people on family planning and distribute contraceptives. Strong opposition from the Roman Catholic church is delaying its passage but Espie believes it will become law in due course. In other Roman Catholic countries, she observed, the issue of birth control is left to the elected government. Here, that would reflect the known support of about two-thirds of the electorate for the Reproductive Health bill.

“Has anyone here read HB 5043?” asked Espie. PP Tony Pastelero raised his hand and later asked what is the basis of the church’s objection, as the bill does not support abortion. Other questions from Mac McLean further explored this and the prospects for the bill’s success. Vince Tan linked the population issue to global warming! “I’ll relay your message to the proponents of the bill replied Espie.

Now that was a good meeting.