1,500 Rally for RH, Push the Bill Past the Appropriations Committee

More than 1,500 people rallied at the street across the House of Representatives to push the RH bill past the Appropriations Committee (AC). The consolidated RH bill, which contains an innocuous and fairly common provision passing on to the General Appropriations Act the allocation of funds to implement the law, was incessantly blocked by anti-RH legislators led by Reps. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City), Pablo Garcia (Cebu) and Karlo Nograles (Davao City). While all the other bills tackled by the AC lasted just a few minutes, the RH bill dragged on for 3 separate hearing days, each 1 week apart. On the 3rd hearing (16 February 2011), the bill was finally passed by the committee voting 20 in favor and 3 against, thanks to the push by active and enlightened people and legislators.

Thanks and congratulations to all! Photos of the rally organized by RHAN follows: