There is a pending bill in Congress House Bill No 5043 which will provide for a national policy on reproductive health responsible parenthood and population development. In effect this will attempt the uncontrolled population growth which if allowed to continue would virtually make this country a poorer country in years. Its section no 2 provides, The State upholds and promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards. The State shall uphold the right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reasonable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy. This policy is anchored on the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens. The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors.
Its guiding principles of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors. SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. – This Act declares the following as basic guiding principles:
a. In the promotion of reproductive health, there should be no bias for either modern or natural methods of family planning;
b. Reproductive health goes beyond a demographic target because it is principally about health and rights;
c. Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of reproductive health and population development;
d. Since manpower is the principal asset of every country, effective reproductive health care services must be given primacy to ensure the birth and care of healthy children and to promote responsible parenting;
e. The limited resources of the country cannot be suffered to, be spread so thinly to service a burgeoning multitude that makes the allocations grossly inadequate and effectively meaningless;
f. Freedom of informed choice, which is central to the exercise of any right, must be fully guaranteed by the State like the right itself;
g. While the number and spacing of children are left to the sound judgment of parents and couples based on their personal conviction and religious beliefs, such concerned parents and couples, including unmarried individuals, should be afforded free and full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality and should be guided by qualified State workers and professional private practitioners;
h. Reproductive health, including the promotion of breastfeeding, must be the joint concern of the National Government and Local Government Units (LGUs);
i. Protection and promotion of gender equality, women empowerment and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative;
j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized;
The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors.
g. While the number and spacing of children are left to the sound judgment of parents and couples based on their personal conviction and religious beliefs, such concerned parents and couples, including unmarried individuals, should be afforded free and full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality and should be guided by qualified State workers and professional private practitioners;
h. Reproductive health, including the promotion of breastfeeding, must be the joint concern of the National Government and Local Government Units (LGUs);
i. Protection and promotion of gender equality, women empowerment and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative;
j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized;
k. Active participation by and thorough consultation with concerned non-government organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs) and communities are imperative to ensure
and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative;
j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized;
k. Active participation by and thorough consultation with concerned non-government organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs) and communities are imperative to ensure that basic policies, plans, programs and projects address the priority needs of stakeholders;
The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors.
This provision is considered as controversial. The Catholic church subscribes to natural methods of birth control.
The bill will allow different methods of birth control including the use of condoms, birth control pills and injections. The church strongly objects to the use of condoms and birth control pills
h. Reproductive Health Education – refers to the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills do be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate. and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion.
This provision is also objected to as this will result in teaching sex education in the elementary grades. Purists proclaim this will encourage sexual liberalism among the children. It will cause more destructive effects on the morality of children than for them to know the limitations of sex among the younger members of our society.
The truth is the use of these so-called contraceptives has not been too popular with our people specially the poor They could hardly afford to buy these contraceptives. To them it is too costly. Condoms are not popular because some complained that they don't really deliver the real pleasure in sex It is more or less lacking. The pills are better but it has its own side effects and needs constant medical supervision which makes it more expensive.
Among the more affluent members of society, you could hardly find big families they are mostly limited at the most four children. But if you go to a village mostly populated by fishermen, there are hundreds and hundreds of children. It is probably because they wake up early and certainly they do something sexual before leaving for the seas. It is very unthinkable that e some families have six to ten children far more than what they can afford to support It will only increase further the street children.
In Metro Manila, I have seen garbage scavengers having in their kariton four or six kids. Naturally you can surmise the future of these children. It is almost criminal to have more children than what you can afford to support. In Bohol, the provincial leaders led by the forward looking governor Edgar Chatto should take the lead especially on educating our people in the hinterlands and also in fishing village barrios to limit their children. Doctors should be made available in these areas to prescribe the right pills to these families and even sell pills at subsidized prices.
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