2,000 to join parade for Int’l Women’s Day celeb in Cebu
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, March 7 (PIA) -- In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, around 2,000 participants from various women’s organizations in Cebu City and other government offices and the private sector will join the parade tomorrow morning to highlight the annual observance in Cebu.
Camila Santina of the Cebu City Women’s Welfare and Family Affairs said the parade which also serves as the kick-off activity of Women’s Month every March will start at 6:30 a.m. at the vicinity of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 compound.
From the DOH 7, the participants will proceed to Plaza Sugbo fronting the Cebu City Legislative Building for a short program.
Santina said wellness and healthcare services will be provided for the first 100 women on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Free screening tests on cholesterol level, anemia, bone density, kidney stone and ultrasound will be provided at the Plaza Sugbo courtesy of a private pharmacy who will be bringing along three doctors to conduct the various examinations,” Santina declared.
The Cebu City Health Department will also provide triglyceride level test, pneumonia examination and free OB-gynecology consultation.
Information and education materials on family planning and reproductive health will be given to raise awareness on the importance of promoting health among women for optimum health care.
Santina said the Perpetual Succour Hospital has also committed to provide discounts for laboratory exams for the whole month of March to women as their support to the celebration.
“The hospital will be giving 20 percent discounts on mammogram screening, x-ray, CT scan and MRI test and 10 percent on room and board to women 18 years old and above,” Santina added.
Exempted from the discount however, are senior citizens that already have existing 20 percent discount based on law and GSIS members as well.
Santina said the activities of Women’s Month in Cebu is a partnership between the public and private sector that aims to empower women of their rights in all aspects of life may it be economic, political, and social.
This year’s celebration carries the theme ‘Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility.’ (PIA-Cebu)
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Not all Catholics opposed to RH Bill, gender rights advocate says
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, March 7 (PIA) -- Some Catholics support the passage of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill because its main objective is simply to provide reproductive healthcare services to women thus, promoting for their optimum health.
Dr. Rhodora Bucoy, an associate professor of the University of the Philippines - Cebu College (UPCC) and coordinator of Sidlak Gender Resource Center (GRC) 7 said not all Catholics are opposed to the RH Bill.
“The Catholics for RH is calling for the bill’s approval in Congress and we share the view that the bill does not incorporate abortion. Rather, it merely provides reproductive healthcare services for women,” Bucoy said.
Sidlak GRC 7 is a non-government organization based at the UPCC that aims for a gender-fair region where women have equal access to opportunities in all areas.
“We are pushing for the promotion of the Magna Carta for Women especially on gender and development and women empowerment,” Bucoy bared.
Bucoy said opponents to the RH Bill have nothing to fear and that they are willing to negotiate with the progressive elements of the Church and other sectors to push for the RH Bill otherwise known as responsible parenthood and population development bill.
The Church strongly opposed the bill claiming it is anti-life or pro-abortion as it aims to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control which includes distribution of family planning devices such as birth control pills and condoms.
Pushing for the approval of the RH Bill is one of the legislative priorities of Pres. Aquino due to the country’s commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN-MDGs) to significantly reduce high maternal mortality rate in the country. The Philippines has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Asia.
Information and education campaign materials on reproductive health and family planning on the other hand, will be distributed tomorrow at the Plaza Sugbo near the Cebu City Hall where a short program will be held to highlight the celebration of International Women’s Day in Cebu. (PIA-Cebu)