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On Monday, the Philippine parliament halted a government plan to provide free contraception, cutting a proposed 200 million peso (US $4.5 million) allocation to the Health Ministry's 2011 budget. "The 200 million pesos allotted for the purchase of pills, injectables, and even condoms has been removed because these contraceptives are in violation of . the constitution," said Vicente Sotto, majority leader of the Senate, citing a provision that states: "It [the state] shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception."
House and Senate members meeting in a conference committee to finalize the 1.634 trillion peso budget bill made the decision. President Benigno Aquino can either veto or uphold the move when he signs the 2011 budget act into law. Aquino has supported the contraceptive plan, while the dominant Roman Catholic Church vigorously opposes it.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the Health Ministry's budget for programs like maternal care and parenting classes, 680 million pesos, remains intact. Despite majority support in the House, the reproductive bill has been denounced by key senators like Enrile and Sotto. However, Enrile said he is open to debate.
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