The Senate yesterday urged the Supreme Court to finally render a decision on the Reproductive Health (RH) case so that the government can address growing maternal and infant care concerns in the country. Sen. Pres. Drilon argued that the prolonged debacle on the RH Law has "stymied" government efforts in fully attending to the need for maternal and infant care throughout the nation. The Senate leader further stressed that addressing maternal deaths is a commitment under the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, where the country is woefully lagging behind. Thus the high court's ruling on the constitutionality of the law "is vital in freeing the government to act on maternal deaths and other health complications affecting women, wives and mothers in the country." The RH Law was passed by the 15th Congress in Dec. 2012 and was signed into law by Pres. Aquino later that same month. However various sectors questioned it's constitutionality before the SC who in turn, issued a status quo ante order against the law on March 2013. He said whatever the verdict of the Supreme Court on the RH Law would be, only then will the government be free to either continue with the approved legislation or proceed to formulate another national health policy. Drilon, however said that while he is calling for the SC to an increased decisiveness, he also concurs on the issue with fellow congressional leaders such as House Speaker Belmonte Jr. who had earlier called on the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the RH Law.
