ERNALYN A.

SANCHEZ
Subject________________

Course______________ Prof. __________________

REACTION PAPER ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW

The Republic Act 10354 or also known as the Responsible Parenthood

and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, most commonly known as the
Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, had undoubtingly been an object of
issue, debate and controversy of Filipinos being a Christian country for the
last recent years it had been anticipated. With all the issues, criticisms,
news, and discussions whether the bill should be approved or not, I had been
very conscious and aware of the standpoints of the two opposing sides- the
Pro and the Anti RH Law.

To present the perspective of those who take side on the

implementation of this law particularly represented by Dr. Lordivino Mesina,
PLM students and honorable senators like Pia Cayetano who was interviewed
and whose speeches are shown in the documentary, it is provided that this
law will mandate the government to promote, with no any predisposition, all
effective, natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically
safe and legal, which includes the public’s universal access to methods
of contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal health care
most especially, for the women who are the sole beneficiaries of this
pronouncement. It is also stipulated in the law that trainings and seminars
would also be provided for health care professionals and that age-
appropriate sex education will be integrated in the curriculum of grade five
to grade twelve students to provide awareness and preventative control to
the growing population of the country.

On the other hand, those who oppose the former side of this argument,
this time represented by Dr. Ryan Capitulo and Senators Manny Villar,
Jinggoy Estrada,Tito Sotto, Christian organizations and sects and others who
believe that overpopulation is not merely the problem in our society and that
this law is not necessary and not actually the answer to the predicaments
and shortcomings our country is facing and that the implementation of this
law is just a bad expense for the government. They suppose that what the
country needs as of the very moment is more work for the public, housing
programs, more hospitals, health insurances and any other related programs
that could address the poverty of the people. They conceded that morality
and the upbringing of the family should be uprightly held and discourage the
‘contraceptive-thinking’ that this law seems to promote in the young mind of
the youth.

Living in a Christian and conservative country, It is already expected

that this kind of matter would be sensitive and would make such a great deal
on the minds of Filipino individuals, needless to say, that the pronouncement
of this law might dispute the morality and preservation of Filipino culture.
Though I completely understand the concept and the desire to preserve the
conservatism in our country, as a student and a child of modern generation
of the century, I cannot say I am against with this course of action. As we are
all aware, the time has immensely changed and we are not already living in
a primitive world where people are just watching and wondering what the
world would be in a distant future. We are now in fast-moving generation
whereby everything is calculated, planned and measured. And with all the
problems and nuisances that our country is facing, most especially poverty,
which I think is the heaviest burden of all, I think it is just right to make some
plan of action even if it is just a preventive measure of population, than to
have and do nothing and just let the matter go out of hand.

Through my continuous learnings and personal disposition on the way

I see things, one of the main reasons why our country is poor and struggling
is because individuals lack knowledge, be it on law, or even on simplest little
things that should be resolved. And because of this downbeat, most of us are
not aware of the consequences of the action we are engaging, which I think
is the rationale behind one of the factors of poverty: Overpopulation – the
highlight and strongest point of RH law implementation. Through this bill,
this problem could actually be resolved by providing the public, not just the
reproductive health care, but also the knowledge they most need upon
engaging with activities related with and what the provision is all about.
Unwanted pregnancies, unprepared parents, abortion and broken families
could actually be avoided and can further promote responsible parenthood
which could also further stop child labor, family malnutrition and other health
issues that are all linked together with poverty and are very evident in our
society.

Moreover, I firmly believe that all the values and lessons are first
taught and best learned at home as what Sen. Estrada had said on the
documentary. It is true that our family, especially the teachings of our
parents are the most important foundation that one could ever have for a
pursuit of a decent life. So if in any case, some are deeply bothered by the
idea of contraceptives and other related products being within grasps of their
children or immediate family, maybe it is not the rulings of the government
that should be put in question but the upholding and values they are
instilling to their children. Responsible Parenthood Act does not actually
encourage the masses to engage with such activity but it prepares and
opens the mind of the individuals on the entire closed path that our
community had been reluctant to accept.

Withal these thoughts running on my mind, I realize how unacceptable

it is to just look, weigh and limit what RH Law can do just because of the yet
unscathed morality and culture and how profound the underlying reasons
there might be behind the people’s affirmation on this matter. Considering
all our different perspective, maybe accepting this law wouldn’t actually
mean abandoning the old culture ways and forgetting the values and norms
instilled by our forefathers about the importance and sacredness of human
life, chastity and purity. On the bigger picture, maybe this liberal way of
thinking is a collective manner of the Filipinos stepping outside the box for a
more practical and better life. Bearing in mind the entire load that our
country is trying to juggle at hand and as a responsible adult in the near
future, I cannot help but see it as a hope – that maybe, even in just simple
little way in the mind of our fellow Filipinos, we are enriching new ideas and
creating an improvement that could launch a milestone of our much-awaited
progress.

We all have our convictions and free will on how we will handle our life.
At the end of the day, it is still on our hands how we will put in good use all
that we are given. Whether you are in favour or against with this law, the
government could not actually force you to do something that you are not
willing to do. It is still at our very own discretion how we will control our lives,
and at our personal estimation of what good life really is and which side are
you really ought to be.