Women to Solons: Give Love on Valentine’s Day, Vote on the RH Bill!
This is a press statement from Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP).
On Valentine’s Day, a group of women advocates working among grassroots communities’ nationwide urged lawmakers to show their love to women by voting on the highly clamoured Reproductive Health (RH) bill.
“Women from different sectors all over the country have clamoured for the passage of the RH bill,” said Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP).
This has been shown in various surveys conducted by prestigious organizations since the bill was first filed more than ten years ago. The results in recent years have not changed – women, and men for that matter, wants a law on RH, explains Angsioco.
“Seventy three (73%) of Filipinos believe that family planning is a personal choice and a right, and that government should provide Filipinos with information and services – that is according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey,” said Angsioco.
Still, and despite all these, Congress remains evasive, laments Angsioco. “Congress leaders still do not listen to the voice of the majority of the Filipino people,” she said. “And while the delays on the RH debate continues, women, especially poor women, suffer from pregnancy and childbirth complications.”
“Sad reality is that women continue to die of deaths that could have been prevented,” Angsioco stressed.
According to Angsioco, the lack of access to RH education and services have victimized thousands of women, some are even relatives of the members of their organization. In our sympathy to these women and their families, DSWP with its partner organizations have launched a nationwide signature campaign for the RH bill.
“On Valentine’s Day and in behalf of the women in the grassroots communities, DSWP is handing over some of these signatories to our Congress representatives. We hope that this simple act will awaken the Congress leadership and that finally they listen to us – women who are the victims of the delays on the enactment of the RH bill,” Angsioco ended
About The Author
Noemi Lardizabal-Dado
Noemi Lardizabal-Dado is a Content Strategist with over 16 years experience in blogging, content management, citizen advocacy and media literacy and over 26 years in web development. Otherwise known as @MomBlogger on social media, she believes in making a difference in the lives of her children by advocating social change for social good. She is a co-founder and a member of the editorial board of Blog Watch . She is a resource speaker on media literacy, social media , blogging, digital citizenship, good governance, transparency, parenting, women’s rights and wellness, and cyber safety. Her personal blogs such as aboutmyrecovery.com (parenting) , pinoyfoodblog.com (recipes), techiegadgets.com (gadgets) and benguetarabica.coffee keep her busy outside of Blog Watch. Disclosure: I am an advocate. I am NOT neutral. I will NOT give social media mileage to members of political clans, epal, a previous candidate for the same position and those I believe are a waste of taxpayers' money. I do not support or belong to any political party. I was part of accredited media covering the Office of the Vice President and Leni Robredo as she ran as a presidential aspirant in the 2022 National and local elections. On August 5, 2021, YouTube announced that I was selected as one of 50 Program participants of its Creator Program for Independent Journalists She was a Senior Consultant for ALL media engagements for the PCOO-led Committee on Media Affairs & Strategic Communications (CMASC) under the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council from January 4 -July 5, 2017. Having been an ASEAN advocate since 2011, she has written extensively about the benefits of the ASEAN community and as a region of opportunities on Blog Watch and aboutmyrecovery.com. Organization affiliation includes Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation Updated June 6, 2022