Pro-Life Philippines President Lito Atienza said Sunday he will present the stance of the Catholic Church and Pro-Life Philippines explaining why they are opposing the controversial Reproductive Health Bill (HB 3773) when his campaign sorties start for his mayoral bid in Manila.

Atienza, former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary, who is seeking to return as Manila mayor, said he would explain to Manila residents that the RH Bill is a mere “alibi for failure” and that what the country and Filipinos need to ensure economic progress is a good and effective government free from graft and corruption.

“I would explain to Manila residents why we are opposing this proposed bill and I would prove to them that the proponents of this bill are fooling the people,” he said in an interview.

Atienza said he would explain to his constituents that the population growth is not the cause of poverty. “We should stop the corruption and instead implement good governance, and this is the answer to the problem of poverty,” he said.

Atienza, together with the Alliance of Family Life Organizations, cited a survey showing an overwhelming 92 percent rejection of the “anti-life measure” by Filipinos during a press conference at Casino Español in Manila.

According to Atienza, some 500 respondents participated in the survey commissioned by the Alliance of Family Life Organizations and conducted by HB&A International Research (affiliated with Louis Harris & Associates for technology transfer) and Asia Research Organization (affiliate of Gallup International) from Dec. 2 to 9 in 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila.

Atienza said the survey showed nine out of 10 Filipinos want Congress to reject outright the RH Bill, which is also being opposed by the Catholic Church and other religious and pro-life groups.

“Malinaw na panlilinlang at hindi totoo ang survey na pinakakalat nila Congressman Lagman na pinalalabas na pabor ang mga Pilipino sa ipinipilit nilang Reproductive Health Bill. When Filipinos were asked about the true provisions of the proposed legislation, they overwhelmingly do not agree,” Atienza pointed out.

For his part, Alliance of Family Life Organizations Chairman Lito Sandejas said 90 percent or more of those surveyed were also not in favor with the salient points of the RH Bill, which include teaching children aged 10 to 11 to learn sex techniques with vivid pictures from male and female teachers who will explain only the biological and technical aspects of sex.

Sandejas said 94 percent rejected the idea of Congress passing a bill that will make available to young children and young teens artificial birth control methods even without parental consent, giving them access to condoms, IUDs, birth control pills and other abortifacients. He said what’s even worse is that under the proposed law, doctors and health workers could be jailed if they refuse to support birth control methods.

At the same time, 96 percent of those surveyed rejected the passing of a legislation that would encourage a contraceptive mentality that will lead to an abortive mentality, he said.

The respondents also rejected the proposal that would allow one’s spouse to undergo vasectomy/tubal ligation without prior consent as required by law, with 91 percent saying the government should not allocate extra funds to buy birth control pills and condoms to the detriment of other essential medicines.