The reason why I post this blog is because I get annoyed by the persons who think that RH bill has a very negative views regarding this issue. The Reproductive Health bill (or RH) is analogous to an antiseptic not antibiotic. An antiseptic inhibits the multiplication of a certain foreign organism from the body but an antibiotic kills the a certain foreign organism from the body. Similarly, RH bill don't kill humans, but inhibits it's multiplication.
Regarding the Catholic Church, I don't really understand what they are trying to say. With all due respect, Priest/Nun don't GET PREGNANT that's why they don't really know how difficult for a woman when they get pregnant.
Regarding the Catholic Church, I don't really understand what they are trying to say. With all due respect, Priest/Nun don't GET PREGNANT that's why they don't really know how difficult for a woman when they get pregnant.
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_Health_bill generally:
"RH bill, is a Philippine bill aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. "
The Reproductive Health Bill and Population Development Act of 2008 (hereafter RH Bill) is an act providing for a national policy on reproductive health, responsible parenthood and population development, and for other purposes. It was primarily authored by Albay First District Representative Edcel Lagman and is now co-authored by about 130 more lawmakers. The bill covers the following aspects: "information and access to natural and modern family planning; maternal, infant and child health and nutrition; promotion of breast feeding; prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; adolescent and youth health; prevention and management of reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; elimination of violence against women; counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health; treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers; male involvement and participation in reproductive health; prevention and treatment of infertility; and reproductive health education for the youth." (House Bill No. 5043 Sections I-III, 2008) More than a year has passed since the bill's original authorship, but it still remains a controversial issue in the legislative assembly. Consequently, it has also sparked debates among economists, sociologists, health experts, religious organizations and ordinary members of the community. This is why it is only appropriate for me, a concerned student and Filipino citizen, to offer my assessment. After reading the full text of the bill and the opposing arguments among different sectors, I am now brought to an unwavering stand. The RH Bill must be immediately legislated because as clearly stated in its policies and objectives, it promotes awareness and education, ensures public health and disease prevention and enables the government to play its role in the overall welfare of the citizens.
One of the reasons why our countrymen still has not experienced the intended benefits of this bill is the continuing campaign of the Catholic Church to discredit it. According to them, the promotion of artificial contraceptives and sex education will eventually lead to threatening accounts of divorce, euthanasia, abortion, total contraception methods and homosexual marriage (D.E.A.T.H.). In an interview with Catholic-run Veritas 846 Radio, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) Commision on Family Life Chairperson and Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, counts that the bill is “anti-poor and anti-life”. According to him, human resources are a great advantage. The government should focus on programs that would make them useful and productive. Obviously, sick and uneducated humans are not the resources we would like to have. They cannot be dynamic if they are devoid of information, inflicted with diseases that can be prevented and treated, or worried about a family of ten that they cannot support. These can all be avoided upon the approval of the RH Bill, which, as we will soon after see, is not just pro-life but pro-quality life.
First of all, the RH Bill promotes awareness and education, which are the initial steps to creating a well-founded society. One of the key components of this bill is the advocacy of family-planning for couples. This way, they can decide on the proper timing, spacing and number of their children, according to what their family can support. Included in this clause is the recommendation of the ideal family size to have two children only, but it is still for the family to decide for their own welfare. This will inhibit the rapid growth of our population, and all the negative implications of this on our society as a whole. Aside from this, campaigns and counseling will be funded in order to provide parents with appropriate methodologies and information regarding sexuality and sexual health. Men and women alike will be more aware of their rights and responsibilities, and will therefore become equal contributors to their families and communities. Even the youth at their curious, growing years will benefit, as sex education will be incorporated in their school curriculum. This will ensure that their questions will be properly addressed, their changing bodies will be better understood and take care of, and their future decisions will be based on the rational teachings inculcated onto them early on. In effect, this can also prevent cases of unplanned pregnancies, sexual abuse and bodily disorders, all because the citizens are fully equipped with the right information.
Another objective of this bill is to ensure public health and disease prevention. Researches show that only 60 percent of the births in the Philippines are properly supervised by a skilled attendant, and some 160 women die every 100,000 births. (United Nations Population Fund, 2009) Through this bill, proper funding will be allotted to ensure the accessibility of vaccinations, consultations and safer deliveries from professional midwives, especially in rural areas. This will decrease infant mortality rates and other deaths caused by complications during pregnancy. After the passage of this bill, gynaecological and reproductive tract diseases will also be given attention and treatment. Citizens will be assisted with proper diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Some Filipinos do not even know that they are already sick, or are usually afraid to ask. Through mobile health centers and campaigns, they will be properly educated by health experts. Another controversial clause is about the prevention and management of abortion and its complications. Abortion is undeniably present in the black market, but with proper treatment and information against it, it will less likely prevail. Lastly, infertility and sexual dysfunctions will also be solved. There are couples who want to have a family but cannot, and through modern medicine and technology, they can now gain access to this possibility.
The third and most time-appropriate advantage of the RH Bill is the fact that it enables the government to play its role in the overall welfare of the citizens. As expected by the citizens, the government must be the first to see the realities of our society today. People are having unprotected sex. Couples need effective contraceptives. Parents are not ready for ten children that they cannot feed, clothe and send to school. The youth learn about sex from incompetent sources like the internet, teen shows and their “experienced” peers. People are getting sick and spreading diseases without them knowing or admitting it. It is appropriate for a central body such as the government to intervene. They are not being intrusive; they are only ensuring that they are able to seek and address our best interests. This way, they are making sure that we become responsible for ourselves. Is this not what we need? Is this not what we want from our officials? Evidently, it must be. According to the Third Quarter 2008 Social Weather Stations Report, 71 percent favor passage of the RH Bill. That is seven out of ten Filipinos, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This is the reality today, and we must soon take action.
It is true that the RH Bill does not directly solve poverty or protect us from killings and wars. However, it still brings us one step closer to our goal. With the passage of this bill, we can be rich with information. We can be safe from health risks. We can be truly empowered as individuals. After that, we will be able to contribute better to our own communities. Although the bill is strongly discouraged by the Catholic church, we must not be easily convinced by misinformation. As responsible citizens, we must look deep into present issues and evaluate how it affects us individually and as a whole. We may see that the realities today encompass our traditional beliefs; however, we must be responsive to the call of the times. This way, we can face our present problems with modern, and possibly more effective solutions (Aura Azarcon, 2009).
Another objective of this bill is to ensure public health and disease prevention. Researches show that only 60 percent of the births in the Philippines are properly supervised by a skilled attendant, and some 160 women die every 100,000 births. (United Nations Population Fund, 2009) Through this bill, proper funding will be allotted to ensure the accessibility of vaccinations, consultations and safer deliveries from professional midwives, especially in rural areas. This will decrease infant mortality rates and other deaths caused by complications during pregnancy. After the passage of this bill, gynaecological and reproductive tract diseases will also be given attention and treatment. Citizens will be assisted with proper diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Some Filipinos do not even know that they are already sick, or are usually afraid to ask. Through mobile health centers and campaigns, they will be properly educated by health experts. Another controversial clause is about the prevention and management of abortion and its complications. Abortion is undeniably present in the black market, but with proper treatment and information against it, it will less likely prevail. Lastly, infertility and sexual dysfunctions will also be solved. There are couples who want to have a family but cannot, and through modern medicine and technology, they can now gain access to this possibility.
The third and most time-appropriate advantage of the RH Bill is the fact that it enables the government to play its role in the overall welfare of the citizens. As expected by the citizens, the government must be the first to see the realities of our society today. People are having unprotected sex. Couples need effective contraceptives. Parents are not ready for ten children that they cannot feed, clothe and send to school. The youth learn about sex from incompetent sources like the internet, teen shows and their “experienced” peers. People are getting sick and spreading diseases without them knowing or admitting it. It is appropriate for a central body such as the government to intervene. They are not being intrusive; they are only ensuring that they are able to seek and address our best interests. This way, they are making sure that we become responsible for ourselves. Is this not what we need? Is this not what we want from our officials? Evidently, it must be. According to the Third Quarter 2008 Social Weather Stations Report, 71 percent favor passage of the RH Bill. That is seven out of ten Filipinos, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. This is the reality today, and we must soon take action.
It is true that the RH Bill does not directly solve poverty or protect us from killings and wars. However, it still brings us one step closer to our goal. With the passage of this bill, we can be rich with information. We can be safe from health risks. We can be truly empowered as individuals. After that, we will be able to contribute better to our own communities. Although the bill is strongly discouraged by the Catholic church, we must not be easily convinced by misinformation. As responsible citizens, we must look deep into present issues and evaluate how it affects us individually and as a whole. We may see that the realities today encompass our traditional beliefs; however, we must be responsive to the call of the times. This way, we can face our present problems with modern, and possibly more effective solutions (Aura Azarcon, 2009).
