The House of Representatives, by a slim margin, approved the Reproductive Health bill on second reading early Thursday morning after more than five hours of voting.
Kathrina Alvarez of Sun.Star Online reports voting went 113-104-3 in favor of the bill. Critics of the bill oppose it for supposedly promoting abortion and promiscuity and for going against Catholic teachings. But Diwa party-list Representative Emmeline Aglipay explained that although she voted in favir of the bill, "I'm not against life. I'm against ignorance."
House Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, who voted against the bill, said it "seeks to prevent and frustrate the Lord from giving life" by giving women access to contraceptives and reproductive health services.
The House is expected to vote on the bill on third and final reading next week.
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