MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 29 (PIA) -- Advocates of reproductive health (RH) care in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are confident that the region’s version of RH Care Act will be approved by the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA).
Hadja Irene P. Tillah, Sulu Second District Assemblywoman and author of the ARMM RH Care Act, expressed optimism that the bill will be enacted into law saying that it is backed by more than majority of the members of the RLA as co-authors.
She said the ARMM RH Care bill is a vital act as it promotes women’s access to medically-safe, legally-affordable, and quality RH care services.
“Upon enactment, the regional law will not only enhance our healthcare system but will also provide for a corresponding educational program for a better understanding and appreciation of RH care,” she further said.
RLA Speaker and co-author Rasol Y. Mitmug, Jr. explained that the regional version of RH bill promotes what is responsive and acceptable to the culture and religious convictions of the ARMM constituents and that it will be an advantage for the region to implement it.
Meanwhile, the Muslim community is also supporting the passage of the local RH care bill.
During the bill second public hearing and consultation held here last Sunday, Professor Nasrodin B. Guro of Mindanao State University (MSU) College of Public Affairs, reiterated that there is no verse in the Holy Qur’an that clearly prohibits the adoption of family planning and RH care by Muslim married couple.
He also believes there is the need for the passage of the region’s RH Care bill for ARMM constituents in concurrence with the Fatwah (official ruling) of the Darul-Iftah to emancipate the Muslims from old bondage of poverty, ignorance and injustice.
The Assembly of Darul-Iftah of the Philippines after series of dialogues with respected religious leaders and Islamic scholars has recently ruled that family planning in Islam refers to birth or child spacing.
Also, all methods of contraception are allowed as long as they are safe, legal, in accordance with Islamic Shariah and approved by a credible physician, preferably a Muslim, for the benefit of both the mother and the child, and for the couple to raise ‘saleh’ (goodly) children who are pious, healthy, educated, useful and well-behaved citizens.
“Improved RH condition of the Muslim people benefits the individual Muslims and strengthens the Muslim nation socially, economically, politically, and in all other aspects of human life,” the Fatwah says. (APB/PIA10-10)
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