SEVEN out of 10 families favor the passage of the reproductive health bill which is being staunchly opposed by the Catholic Church, the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations showed.

The third quarter survey conducted September 24 to 27 also showed 76 percent of families want family planning education in public schools.

The SWS said awareness of the bill, and public support for it, do not vary by religion, regularity of church-going, and trust in the Catholic Church.

Seven out of 10 Catholics (71 percent) and non-Catholics (68 percent) favor the passage of the bill.

House Bill 5043 mainly authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman proposes, among others, reproductive health education for the youth. It also allows the use of artificial contraceptives in planning a family.

The Church allows couples the use of only the natural family planning method.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, said the survey results are a "challenge to the Church" and an opportunity to teach the public on the "real perspective on life and family" which he said is that conception should not be prevented.

"In that context, kung isu-survey mo yung mga tao na hindi nakakaalam on the teachings about life and family, malamang ganun ang lalabas," Quitorio said.

Quitorio also said the passage of the bill could ultimately undermine the value for life.

"Kapag tinuloy-tuloy itong mentality na ginagawa ng mga legislators na hindi napapahalagahan ang buhay, malamang makapag-bigay ng influence ito sa maraming tao," he said. "Life is precious because it comes from God. You cannot tinker with it."

Quitorio dismissed the possibility that supporters of the bill have placed the fetus found Wednesday in a plant pot in front of the Manila Cathedral.

He said there have been numerous incidents of fetuses being left in many places even before the bill came into existence.

The SWS said based on the survey results, support for the bill is an "overwhelming" 84 percent among those previously aware of the measure, and a "majority" 59 percent among those who became aware of it on account of the survey.

Support for both family planning education and for passage of the bill is "very high" among both Catholics and non-Catholics, SWS said.

"Regularity of church-going, and trust in the Catholic church, have no effect on support for the RH Bill," it said.

Support for family planning education and for passage of the bill is "very high" among both men and women, whether single or married, in all areas of the country, and among all socioeconomic classes.

Asked to react to the statement "There should be a law that requires government to teach family planning to the youth," 76 percent of the respondents agreed while 10 percent disagreed.

Support for family planning is high in all areas: agreement is 78 percent in Balance Luzon, 77 percent in the Visayas, 76 percent in Metro Manila, and 72 percent in Mindanao.

It is also high across socioeconomic classes: 78 percent in class ABC, 78 percent in class D, and 71 percent among class E.

The survey found 46 percent already aware of the bill prior to the survey. The balance of 54 percent learned about it on account of the survey.

Prior awareness of the bill is 54 percent in Metro Manila, 47 percent in Balance Luzon, 44 percent in Mindanao, and 42 percent in the Visayas. It is higher in the upper-to-middle class ABC (69 percent) than in class D (45 percent) and class E (41 percent).

Regardless of whether they knew of the bill before, or learned of it during the interview, the survey asked all respondents if they favor it or not, and found 71 percent in favor, 21 percent undecided, and only 8 percent opposed.

Those in favor are 78 percent in Metro Manila, 72 percent in Mindanao, 69 percent in Balance Luzon, and 68 percent in the Visayas. They are 77 percent in class ABC, 70 percent in class D, and also 70 percent in class E.

Support for the passage of the bill among those previously aware of it is an overwhelming 84 percent, and is a majority 59 percent among those who learned of it because of the survey.

Seventy-six percent of Catholics and 78 percent of non-Catholics support family planning education for the youth. "Such support is high regardless of frequency of church-going, and regardless of trust in the Catholic church," SWS said.

Three out of four men (75 percent) and women (77 percent) support having a law requiring family planning education for the youth. The support is equally high among singles and those who are married.

Prior awareness of the bill is slightly higher among women (50 percent) than men (42 percent), but support for it is equally high among men (70 percent) and women (71 percent), regardless of marital status.

Support for family planning education is high even among those against the bill, with four out of five among those who favor its passage (80 percent agree), and two out of three among those not in favor (68 percent agree) and those undecided (65 percent agree)