“Ultimately it is a secular issue, it’s a matter of public policy, it should be for all Filipinos. Not just Catholics. People of whatever faith or people of no faith. If they say they’re agnostic or atheistic, the law should serve them.” – Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel on Reproductive Health Bill
As an advocate of freethought, I always maintain a personal maxim to know, as much possible, all the counter-arguments in relation on what I hold as correct and sensible. The ratio of this knowledge determines how much I am really into the whole issue in question. Also by doing this, I acquire the positive habit of exploring most, if not all, the different perspectives in any multi-faceted issue – be it religious or political in nature. As I read somewhere from WWW it says that “if you don’t stand for something, you will easily fall for anything”. I agree. But as a word of caution before making a stand one must employ first the habit of critical thinking as oppose to religious fanaticism.
So while the fate of the controversial health and welfare House Bill 5043 or RH Bill is at the hand of our politicians and lawmakers, let us examine also the pit and the pendulum surrounding the issue, and how to properly address this in a language that everyone can understand and convince those people in favor of RH Bill, including me.
So what is RH Bill?
The Reproductive Health Bill and Population Development Act of 2008, (RH Bill) seeks government funding for population management programs that would provide reproductive health education and would give access to both natural and artificial family planning methods to all Filipinos. According to the House of Representatives by Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Ladman, primary author of the bill, central to the RH bill is “the exercise of freedom of informed choice by women and couples on what method of family planning they want to adopt”.
Coverage of RH Bill:
1. Information and access to natural and modern family planning.
2. Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition.
3. Promotion of breast feeding.
4. Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications.
5. Adolescent and youth health.
6. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS and STDs.
7. Elimination of violence against women.
8. Counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health.
9. Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers.
10. Male involvement and participation in Reproductive Health.
11. Prevention and treatment of infertility.
12. Reproductive Health education for the youth.
As I read and examine the full text of the bill, available HERE.
I realized that RH Bill is not infallible. With cogent arguments backed with solid evidence the anti camp has a cause to further, and therefore misuse of religious authority, delaying tactics, name-calling, and intensified misinformation by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and others are not needed. They just have to prove the following:
RH Bill is pro-abortion*
This single issue alone once proved is enough to discourage anyone’s support for the pending bill. As even the authors of the bill acknowledge the fact that abortion in this country is not allowed and will remain a crime and punishable. Hence for the anti-RH Bill all they have to do is to show evidence that some of the modern methods in the artificial family planning, included in the proposed law, directly induce deliberate destruction of the fertilized egg or abortion. As evidence, it should be new and reliable scientific evidence; peer reviewed in many scientific journals, and approved by the majority in the field of medicine and health sciences.
*note. Nowhere in the RH Bill is it ever mentioned that abortion will be legalized. Contraception is entirely different from abortion. What’s included in the RH services among others is the post-abortion treatments of women suffering from complications due to abortion circumstance, because the authors believe that they are still entitled to their humane health rights regardless whether if they did it legally or not. The best way to prevent abortions is to prevent unwanted pregnancies, in which RH Bill is intended to. For the list of considered contraceptives approved by World Health Organization (WHO) you can find it HERE and HERE.
RH Bill will not eliminate poverty. As corruption not over-population is the problem*
This is the socio-political paradigm of the issue. The aim, of course, is to project that RH Bill is not very important and will not lead to practical solution and might even worsen the current problem, and so wasting the taxpayers money is objectionable. By this claim, they have to provide adequate studies in reference to the statement that over-population is not a problem, or manpower is actually an asset to a nation or something like that. (They could even cite China as an example of large country with very large population but with a powerhouse economy). They could even argue that the unequal distribution of wealth, wrong priorities of the government, and the greedy oligarchs are the culprit why our nation is under-developed without the burden of over-population.
* note. RH Bill is not a one-size-fits-all solution to all known problems in the Philippine society. But RH Bill acknowledge that population affects poverty; the same way poverty affects the population of a country. Corruption and over-population is both a problem that needs to be provided with ample solutions. RH Bill is a proposed population development law to manage a quality oriented populace. For the relationship of poverty and population of a country see the studies conducted by UN Human Development Reports, The Asian Development Bank in 2004, National Statistics Office (NSO), 2006 Family Planning Survey Philippines Fact Sheet.
RH Bill is unconstitutional*
One of the other objections against the passage of RH bill stems from misconception that this bill is coercive on the side of the employers to provide mandatory free reproductive health care services, supplies, devices and surgical procedures to employees, and be subjected to both imprisonment and/or a fine, for every time they fail to comply. While others cited the freedom of religion and the ‘criminalization of conscience’ of the individuals.
* note. The mandated responsibility on the part of the employers to provide free RH services and supplies to their employees as part of their constitutional overall health plan is an extension to the present law of the land reflected from the Labor Code ARTICLE. 134. Family Planning Services; Incentives for Family Planning. Full text available HERE.
(a) Establishments which are required by law to maintain a clinic or infirmary shall provide free family planning services to their employees which shall include, but not be limited to, the application or use of contraceptive pills and intrauterine devices.
(b) In coordination with other agencies of the government engaged in the promotion of family planning, the Department of Labor and Employment shall develop and prescribe incentive bonus schemes to encourage family planning among female workers in any establishment or enterprise.
On the part of the individuals, once the RH Bill has been enacted the government will neither force anyone to use artificial family method if they don’t want to, nor will dictate the number of children a family can have. RH Bill protects, provides and finance choices and access to a full range of safe and effective family planning methods (natural and artificial) to Filipinos regardless of their belief and non-belief .
Endnote.
What has been tackled here are just some of the controversial aspects purporting the said bill and definitely leaves a lot of room for further examinations and criticisms (especially on the legal part), but the message and challenge cannot be as clearer to those who oppose the RH Bill.
RH Bill is a legal and scientific issue, not religious. Provide reliable evidences or stop wasting taxpayers money and PASS THE RH BILL NOW.
innerminds
Cola
sinisterspark
GabbyD
f241vc15
frank
taxx
element_115x
justinaquino
romainechester
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Flickr
Its “pro”-abortion because of their definition that human life (ergo human rights) should already be assigned to a fertilized egg. Without going to the issue of the potential benefits of stem cell research, I personally know of a few catholic couples who still go through IVF in hopes of having a child of their own. It’s abortion (the unused harvested eggs that were also fertilized in the procedure) by church definition but if you can see the joy these couples feel finally having a baby of their own thanks to modern science, its exasperating to know that the church still insists in its myopic mindset.
one of the most stupid and idiotic piece i had ever read regarding the RH Bill was a piece by Ms. Jennifer Moya on the ?-december 2008 issue of “the Isabelan” (official publication of Santa Isabel College)… She called the RH Bill and Rep. Lagman as heretic, anti-god and anti life…. and her piece was really dissapointing and it seems that she never actuall read the bill (i have no idea where she got her so-called “FACTS”)…
EX: she claimed that the RH Bill will require the gov’t to teach Sex Education to Pre-Elementary!!!
i did send a 7 page (that’s 7 page i think) rebuttal giving a 10 point argument (that includes her inaccurate facts) to their email and to their adviser…
that was a year ago… haven’t received any reply from them…
@geri, great post!
@lucius, would you send us a copy of that rebuttal? Maybe we could post it on this site.
These are good suggestions on how to oppose the RH/Abortion Bill. What is interesting, however, is that these measures have already been done, and still the pro-RH crowd refuses to even acknowledge it,
There is a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence that shows that hormonal contraceptives and IUDs have postfertilization effects, meaning they prevent the implantation of the fertilized egg. If we follow your recommendation, then these are shown to be abortifacient contraceptives. HB 5043 explicitly funds and forces doctors and health workers to dispense these abortifacient contraceptives.
Let me linger on that last point. Section 21 (5) of HB 5043 mandates that doctors who object to dispensing artificial/abortifacient contraceptives on religious grounds are still FORCED to refer requestors to other persons who will do the same act. This is like telling someone that he can refuse to be an assassin but must refer the contract to another assassin who will make the “hit.” This provision effectively forces conscientious objectors to be formal cooperators in the very acts to which they object.
But even conscientious objectors to war (“peaceniks”, if you like) are given real alternatives that do not violate their consciences. Why not doctors and health workers?
Take note that patients’ rights are NOT denied when a doctor refuses to dispense contraceptives. Birth control is NOT a necessary medical or emergency procedure. It does not cure any disease. It is, in fact, an elective “treatment.” The requestor can always go to another doctor. If HB 5043 has as much support as its pushers claim (70% they say), then finding a doctor who will dispense artificial contraceptives should not be difficult at all.
Furthermore, a doctor who objects to dispensing artificial contraceptives is NOT making a judgement on the morality of the requestor. He is making a judgement about his OWN actions, realizing that it would be immoral for HIMSELF to dispense such contraceptives. If the pro-RH crowd is really interested in choice, then they should respect the choices of conscientious objectors.
Some links to evidence of abortifacient contraceptives:
Postfertilization Effects of Oral Contraceptives and Their Relationship to Informed Consent
Mechanisms of action of intrauterine devices: update and estimation of postfertilization effects
The Physicians’ Prescribing information for Yaz and Yasmin, two oral contraceptives
http://berlex.bayerhealthcare.com/html/products/pi/fhc/Yasmin_PI.pdf
http://www.berlex.com/html/products/pi/fhc/YAZ_PI.pdf
Manny. I appreciate the time you spent on answering some of the issues for RH Bill, however, I think you need more than that to prove that IUDs and Oral Contraceptives directly induce abortions. I have cited the World Health Organizations as my chief reference to support that it is not. For the other objection you raised in pertains on the freedom of conscience of the health workers against RH Bill, I think it’s their responsibility and part of their job descriptions to provide the best available resources that would benefit their patients on reproductive health matters. Hospitals and clinics are not the place for them to invoke their personal religious beliefs.
@Manny – hormonal contraceptives only prevent the implantation of the fertilized egg (blastocyst, to be accurate) when taken in large doses for this purpose (i.e. emergency contraception). When taken in the recommended dosage, they only prevent ovulation. (And if ovulation and fertilization do occur, the blastocyst implants without side effects, which accounts for the failure rates of hormonal contraceptives.)
And even the prevention of blastocyst implantation is not legally considered abortion. (And I suppose this is the much debated issue here, since pro-life people already consider this abortifacient.)
You have to distinguish between hormonal contraceptives and abortifacient contraceptives. Lumping all sorts of things together is what causes so much misinformation and misunderstanding.
Also, your analogy equating a doctor prescribing contraceptives to a hitman fails, and fails hard, for a simple reason — being a hitman is illegal. The mountain of differences between the two should be obvious. (e.g. referring a person to a hitman IS ILLEGAL)
Doctors, on the other hand, have taken an oath to put their patients first. There are no conscientious objectors in the field of medicine — you have to do your job, or refer your patient to someone who can do it for you. And if a doctor considers it immoral for himself to dispense contraceptives, does he also consider it immoral for another doctor to do it?
(and if he considers it immoral to do his job, he shouldn’t be a doctor in the first place.)
Manny – You are FOS with your pro-life dreck. While ecologies everywhere collapse under the strain of overpopulation, you choose to split hairs over problems among certain brands of contraceptives. Don’t presume any moral dilemmas among the physicians because they are capable of their own good judgement, while your at it, don’t be such a microcosm of what prevents this country from being progressive.
Why do you think the RP consistently ranks poorly on the UN human development index? Don’t be so damn centric.
Facts :
The RH Bill has significant points that can be pushed. Breastfeeding, prenatal care, etc are good points of the RH. RH Bill should be able to address all questions when in doubt.
The Philippine’s population growth has slowed down to 2.1% fom 2.36% as of 2009. The 2.1% average was buoyed up by the 5.5% growth in ARMM (Muslim Mindanao).
Singapore has admitted already the failure of their two-child policy leading to the greying population.
Over-population is a straight fact if you consider Metro Manila. Issue here is how to make the countryside enticing as to declog Metro Manila.
OFWs, our “natural” human resources, will remain as our biggest contributors to national development.
Corruption is our biggest problem with 40% of our national budget going to corrupt practices.
Number is Power.
Questions:
1. How much “over-population” do you want to reduce?
2. Who are considered belonging to the “over-population”?
3. If the State (government) stops you from having children, is that freedom?
4. Who is financing the RH Bill?
5. If you eliminate the “poor people with so many children” does it guarantee a progressive Philippines?
6. Have anyone read the NSSM 200?
7. We dont neeed to hate personalities when discussing. Doesn’t a debate like this make us more mature?
8. Have you seen the provinces outside Metro Manila? Have you gone to Visayas and Mindanao and wonder why are there so many vacant lands, waiting for people to cultivate?
I strongly believe in absolute scientifical general knowledge.
“GOD” use good technology,and good doctors,etcs.We need to
educate our people obout Financial Family Planning,because
majority of our population is Financially corrupt,not only
we are populating our country,but we are cluttering it.”GOD”
said in Gennesis:be multiply but be Responsible.and this
is our purpose in life.Faith with out action is Dead.”JESUS”
said in Mathew:be aware before generation,many false prophet
will come,many will be decieve,and many will suffer.they
will try to figure “ME” out with their own Religoin,or
ligalistic Mentality,condem many by “MY”sake just like
when they persecuted “ME”at the Cross. They appear so
beautifull outward,but inside thy are full of dead mens bone.
If 90 percent of our population dont have “GODLY” Moral
Principle.90 percent of our population will be corrupt,and
if you think the religious righteous,the political power,
and the people power will save the world you must be on denial.
our form of government,or our form of leadership is base
upon “GOD” Standard.Depart from “HIM”our worse enemy live
inside us.History is “GOD” story.Pride,Ego,Self Righteous,
Popularity.this are the greatest sin in the “BIBLE”.Hindi
tayo humihinga sa mundong ito nang dahil sa ating dangal.
by grace we are save,not because of our own good works,
or our own goodnes.
1. Majority of our population is financially corrupt.
2. not noly we are populating this world,but we are
cluttering it.
3. our form of government is base upon “GOD” Standard.
4. Rectless,and E-Responsible Family are accountable
for their own action.
5. We need to educate our people. Lack of knowledge
people perish.
6. Read the “BIBLE”, Seek “ME” and you will find “ME”.
7. “I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND LIFE”.dont try to figure
“ME”out with your own ligalistic Mentality.
8. Have you seen many people in Manila comes from Visaya
Mindanao,who are seeking better future.