MANILA, Philippines - Around 100 women belonging to a labor group staged a protest in front of the Senate building Monday to press for the approval of the reproductive health (RH) bill.
The Partido ng Manggagawa members also held a noise barrage to draw attention to their call.
"'The giving of the life to a child should not cost the mother her own.' Every day of delay in the passage of the RH bill means loss of women's lives. Whatever the number the statistics provide, the fact remains that more and more women are being deprived of their right to life," PM Secretary General Judy Ann Chan-Miranda said in a press statement.
"Para sa mahihirap at manggagawang kababaihan, ang pinaka-esensya ng laban na ito ay ang pagkilala ng Estado sa reproductive health bilang karapatan ng mamamayang Pilipino, lalung-lalo na ng kababaihan, at ma-exercise ang karapatang ito," she added.
Miranda said the government should provide funds for the proposal that will benefit the poor.
"Contrary to statements that taxpayers money should not be spent for RH services, all citizens have the right to avail themselves of public funds, in this case, for reproductive health services and commodities," she said.