Robredo warns LGUs vs enacting anti-contraceptive rules
MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo called on all governors, mayors, barangay chairmen and other local government officials to refrain from enacting ordinances that prohibit the promotion, sale, distribution and purchase of contraceptives such as condoms and pills.
He said it is not in the power of local legislative bodies to pass such ordinances.
It is only the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) that has been vested by law to ensure the safety and quality of food, drugs, devices, household products and other health products, he said.
He also stressed it is only the FDA that has the right to classify whether a drug or chemical product or device is indeed capable of provoking abortion or preventing conception, and to determine what drugs and devices can be sold with or without a prescription.
He also noted that under the Pharmacy Law or RA 5921, the Board of Pharmacy is the exclusive body authorized to regulate, supervise and control the practice of pharmacy in the country.
"In no provision of the Pharmacy Law did it state that such power has been delegated or can be delegated to a different body or agency, like the local sanggunians," he pointed out.
This comes on the back of news that Barangay Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City and 7 barangays in Balanga City approved their respective ordinances opposing the controversial Reproductive Health Bill.
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DEFIANCE FOR DEFIANCE
The ruling conservatives, while may not be in political power, still controls many aspects of the Filipino culture. and they are using it to defy the state position regarding the "RH" issue.
The string of ordinances enacted by barangay councils are just the latest of the covert political maneuvers by the church and its right wing allies designed to create a psyche of counter-trend against the upperhand apparently gained by RH proponents with the "pro choice" stand of the present administration.
The reason why the church seem to be spurring defiance almost with utmost "impunity" is because no politician can take risk to publicly condemn them. for while the church's position may not be entirely popular, outright condemning them in this largely catholic country is still certainly highly unpopular.
If the politicians can't do it, perhaps it's time that we, the ordinary daily faithfulls, must come out and make a stand. Let's put and end to the church's moral hegemony and spiritual dictatorship.
We are the real pro life simply because we base our view of life on the real experience of living it not on some dogma or theological school of thought.