Reproductive Health Bill (Philippines)

The Reproductive Health Bill, popularly known as the RH Bill, is a Philippine bill aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. The bill has become the center of a contentious national debate. There are presently two bills with the same goals: House Bill No. 96 or the Reproductive Health Act and Population and Development Act of 2010 introduced by Albay 1st district representative Edcel Lagman, and Senate Bill No. 2378 or the Reproductive Health Act introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its key proposal that the Filipino taxpayer and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as birth control pills (BCPs) and IUDs, as the government continues to disseminate information on their use through all health care centers. Private companies and the public and private elementary and secondary school system will be required to participate in this information and product dissemination as a way of controlling the population of the Philippines. The bill is highly controversial, with experts, academics, religious institutions, and major political figures both supporting and opposing it, often criticizing the government and each other in the process. The issue is so divisive that at one point, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines threatened to excommunicate the President, Benigno Aquino III if he supported the bill.

NOYNOY softens stand on RH Bill

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential candidate Senator Benigno Noynoy Aquino III has softened his stand on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill. At the ABS-CBN News Channel's Presidential Youth Forum at De La Salle University (DLSU) on Friday, Aquino said he still wants Filipinos to be educated on the various methods of family planning and be free to choose which method they prefer. However, instead of his strong categorical statements in favor of making contraceptives available in all government hospitals, Aquino said he now believes the pending RH bill must be amended. There are provisions that I cannot support, Aquino said. I was mistakenly labeled as co-author [of the bill]. Actually, Im listed as interpellator, and Im waiting for my opportunity." But having said that, I still think that this is a problem that we cannot bury our heads in the sand. Kailangan natin tugunan. Habang hindi inaasikaso ang problema, tuloy lalaki ang problem at tuloy ang pasakit sa taongbayan, he added. The pro-artificial contraception policy in the RH bill has inspired its advocates but ruffled the feathers of the Catholic church. 'Responsible Parenthood' Aquino has chosen to use the more careful term responsible parenthood in explaining his policy on family planning.

I think that we will all agree that if you look at one parameterfor instance, education there is a dearth of classrooms anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000. We are not already able to meet the needs of the people who are already here." "Responsible parenthood basically says each parent should be reminded, 'May dinala kayong anak sa mundong ito. Meron kayong obligasyon na silay paaralin, pakainin, patirahin ng maayos, damitan, at iba pa.' Ano ang solusyon dyan? Meron po tayong educational campaign na ipapatupad, Aquino said. In contrast, Senator Manuel Villar--who is second to Aquino in the latest presidential surveys--has always been against the reproductive health bill. During Friday's debate, he said a well-managed economy would be able to provide a big population the kind of life that they want. Huwag natin gawing batas. Dapat ang pamahalaan ang mag-ayos ng ekonomiya, he said. Deliberations on the RH bill have been stalled in Congress. Villar said theres no more time to pass it in the 14th Congress. There are only 3 remaining session days left before Congress adjourns on February 5 for the election campaign. Aquino used to be all-out for RH bill Last year, Aquino gave much stronger statements in support of the RH bill. In sorties and media interviews, he had declared that he wants contraceptives to be available in government health centers. He said couples should be free to choose the family planning method they prefer based on their conscience and beliefs. He said the Catholic Church, which opposes the use of contraceptives, should not intervene in this government program. Supporters of the RH bill had latched on to Aquinos popularity to push public support for the bill. But Aquinos stand, which contradicts the position of his late mother President Corazon Aquino, ruffled the feathers of the Catholic Church. It led a number of bishops to speak against Aquino.) It seemed then that Aquino was unaffected by these criticisms from the Catholic Church. I dont care if the Catholic Church will abandon me because of my support for the reproductive health bill. I cannot allow a church-run state. The church teaches me that I will follow my conscience. My conscience tells me that we have an overpopulation problem. I have to address it; we need to control the population. We must ensure full availability of contraceptives, according to an October 2009 story quoting Aquino. Compromise on contractualization Asked on his stand on labor contractualization, Aquino said the best solution is to find a middle ground between the interests of workers and business owners. Gusto kong sugpuin. But at the same time, ayoko namang patayin ang mga negosyong kakaunti na lang nga pong nandyan. Walang makikitang solusyon sa extreme position. Saan ba ang happy compromise dito na tutugunan ang kapakanan ng manggagawa at natutugunan ang pangangailangan ng negosyo para maka-compete sa global market, Aquino said in Friday's debate.

He said the ideal solution is to upgrade the skills of the workers. Our platform stresses education. Education enhances the skills. Job potentials open up because of an enhanced and more skillful labor force. It will hopefully ensure the tenure and potential for meaningful and dignified jobs, he said. Closure on GMA controversies As in previous presidential debates, Aquino reiterated that he will seek closure on controversies hounding President Arroyo. There should be closure on all of the issues. Kailangan may resolution. Kung sino ang may kasalanan, kailangan may panagutan, he said. Asked what he will prioritize, Aquino said, Mahaba listahan. She has destroyed a lot of institutions. Pati ang simbahan nakwe-question. Ang dating mali, nagiging sistema na."

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Churchs stand on reproductive bill uncompromising

MANILA, Oct. 5, 2008The Catholic Churchs position on the Reproductive Health bill is absolute, said an official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). CBCP spokesperson Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III said theres no way that the Church will soften its position against the controversial bill currently pending in Congress. As of now, the stand of the CBCP on the RH bill is absolute. Theres no way to compromise, he said in a forum in Intramuros, Manila. Quitorio, however, admitted that they havent come up with a plan yet on what their next move will be in the event the bill is approved in Congress. The leadership hasnt thought of what will happen afterwards. I can just surmise that if it gets approved, the CBCP will definitely do something, he said. At present, he said, they are concentrating on lobbying against the bill because of its anti-life provisions. On Thursday, it was reported that the number of legislators in favor of the Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood, and Population Development Act of 2008 or House Bill (HB) 5043 climbed to 108 from 103, only 12 votes shy of approval in the House of Representatives. The bill needs 120 votes to be approved on second reading. On the other hand, CBCPs Episcopal Commission on Family and Life head and Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto said he is not in the least bothered by the development as he expressed confidence that the lawmakers would eventually make the right decision in the final voting. This is not a statistical contest. Above all our strategy here is a prayerful campaign. We will pray for the whole church that they will ask for divine assistance and we also pray

for our legislators. They are men and women who are educated and they have their own conscience. This is also a test of maturity for our legislators, he said. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) also joined the Catholic Churchs voice in opposing the bill. "We stand by the Church as she respectfully signified her strong objection to the contraceptive program the Bill promotes, considering the practices which it shall engender," CEAP said in a statement posted on their website "Both Sacred Scripture and Reason proposed that the best form of birth regulation is self-discipline," it added. Instead of allotting P2 billion from taxpayers money for the purchase of contraceptives, the CEAP has urged lawmakers to use the money for education, livelihood and basic public services. The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) is the biggest organized group of Catholic schools in the country, with about 1,252 member schools. (CBCPNews)

Summary of major provisions

The bill mandates the government to promote, without bias, all effective natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically safe and legal.[3] Although abortion is recognized as illegal and punishable by law, the bill states that the government shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.[3] The bill calls for a multi-dimensional approach integrates a component of family planning and responsible parenthood into all government anti-poverty programs.[3] Under the bill, age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education is required from grade five to fourth year high school using life-skills and other approaches.[3] The bill also mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to guarantee the reproductive health rights of its female employees. Companies with less than 200 workers are required to enter into partnership with health care providers in their area for the delivery of reproductive health services.[3] Employers are obliged to monitor pregnant working employees among their workforce and ensure they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for each month of the pregnancy period that they are employed.[3] The national government and local governments will ensure the availability of reproductive health care services, including family planning and prenatal care.[3] Any person or public official who prohibits or restricts the delivery of legal and medically safe reproductive health care services will be meted penalty by imprisonment or a fine.[3]