The controversial RH Bill - Part 2

RE-POSTED as an advocacy to finally pass the RH Bill this 15th Congress


The Controversial RH Bill
(philstar.com) Updated August 18, 2009 12:00 AM

Surveys have shown that more and more Filipinos – particularly women – want more access to information regarding family planning options. After all, it is the women who are most affected by this issue. Every time a woman gives birth, her life is also at risk, and it does not matter if she is rich or poor.

According to data by the Guttmacher Institute, 3,500 pregnancy-related deaths occurred in the Philippines last year, twice the annual average of 1,783 deaths recorded from 2000 to 2004. The report also disclosed that some 30,000 Filipino babies died a month after birth, and that an estimated 52,000 babies did not live long enough to celebrate their first birthday.

Experts aver that high infant mortality rates are connected to maternal mortality, since it would be difficult to nourish a child if the mother herself is not healthy.

Proponents of the reproductive health bill admit that pushing for its passage has been an uphill battle especially with the influential Catholic Church exerting every effort to block it. Even Speaker Prospero Nograles has admitted that HB 5043 is the most difficult to pass, with members of the lower chamber divided over the issue.

Some are also predicting that even if the Lower House passes the bill, it will most likely be killed in the Senate because the “presidentiables” are not inclined to clash with the position of the Church. But then again, the late Jaime Cardinal Sin campaigned against one of the strong proponents of population management, then Health Secretary Johnny Flavier when he was running for the Senate. But the Catholic influence on voters turned out to be a myth, because Johnny Flavier still came out Number 2.

No doubt the reproductive health issue is contentious – but we need to “take the bull by the horn.” Because no matter how much the economy expands or grows, it would be difficult to feel its benefits trickling down to the poor majority if the rapid population growth outpaces economic growth.

Being an economist herself, GMA only knows too well what Gary Teves is talking about. If she really wants to leave a good legacy as she has repeatedly expressed, then this is one time when she has to show political will and exert all effort to get House Bill 5043 passed in Congress.
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