“A vote on RH for a vote in 2013” says newly elected student leaders

Press Release
March 22, 2012

QUEZON CITY  –  Newly elected student leaders of top universities and colleges of the country have come out in support of the call to vote on the RH Bill.  The RH Bill or Reproductive Health Bill is currently being deliberated in Congress and in the Senate.  But supporters of the bill say that the RH Bill has been languishing in both Houses of Congress for more than 10 years.

“For us, the RH Bill is pro-youth and to be anti-RH is to be anti-youth.” This is the strong statement of Gibby Gorres, National Secretary-General of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP).  SCAP has 150 member universities, colleges and student political parties all over the country.

“We believe that more than 10 years of debate is enough time for our leaders in the House and in the Senate to make a decision.” Benjamin de Leon, President of the Forum for Family Planning and Development (The Forum) said.  The Forum is an NGO pushing for the passage of the RH Bill and a partner of SCAP.

According to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), college enrolment continues to rise yearly. In SY 2010-2011 there were 2.63 million enrolees and 2.66 million enrolees for SY 2011-2012 in 1,793 higher education institutions nationwide.

“We were elected in our respective schools because we would like to believe that our fellow students know that we will speak out for their rights. I support the passage of the RH Bill because millions of young people suffer from RH related issues such as HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy and even maternal deaths,” said Robby Camagong, former student council member of De La Salle University and officer of Student Council Alliance of the Philippines.

“The voice of the youth should not be ignored in the debate on the RH Bill.  According to the NDHS (National Demographic and Health Survey), 10% of all 15-19 year old girls are already mothers. Needless to say, a legislator who is deaf and blind to the needs and sentiments of his or her constituencies, especially young people, does not deserve a seat in Congress.”  Gorres said.  Gorres also says that he is confident that the student councils can exert influence among students in their schools even in their support for pro-RH candidates in the next national elections.

“RH will be the main agenda of the youth for 2013. We see that RH is an issue of our generation more than anyone else's. Congress must end the debates and vote for the passage of this long overdue bill. A vote for RH is a vote for 2013.” Said Heart Dino, Chairperson-elect, UP Diliman University Student Council. Dino also made history for being the first transgender to be elected as student council chair of the University of the Philippines.