Philippines still divided on reproductive health bill
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Philippine society remains divided on the reproductive health (RH) bill, if the heated debate on "Harapan" aired by ABS-CBN and ANC on Sunday night is any indication.
Key proponents of movements either supporting or rejecting the RH bill took part in the discussion, which was hosted by Julius Babao and Karen Davila.
The debate sought to clarify issues about the bill now pending in Congress, amid vitriol spilled by both sides on social media, the pulpit, on the streets, and elsewhere.
House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, one of the proponents of the measure now called Responsible Parenthood-Reproductive Health Bill, fired the first salvo in the debate.
He cited United Nations data showing that 11 women in the country die every day due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
He also mentioned surveys made by Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia showing that a majority of Filipinos support the RH bill. "Ang RH bill ay hindi tungkol sa religion. Ito ay tungkol sa karapatan, kalusugan, at kaunlaran," he said.
Lagman added that it is not only about contraceptives but also maternal health, abortion prevention, HIV-AIDS management prevention, and efforts to stamp out violence against women.
Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, who is opposing the bill, took the opposite road and said he and the other guests would not be present at the debate if their mothers followed family planning.
He also claimed that contraceptives raise breast cancer rates and do not prevent HIV infections, citing Thailand.
Golez also said the Philippines' population growth rate is going down. "Di na kailangan ng RH para bumaba."
He and Lagman would trade barbs later on during the debate over Golez's statistical data, with his fellow lawmaker from Bicol accusing him of fabricating figures.
The 2 legislators were not the only ones on the hot seat.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' Fr. Melvin Castro drew raised eyebrows when he said tubal ligation, a popular medical method involving the cutting women's Fallopian tubes to prevent them from becoming pregnant again, is considered as a sin by the church.
University of Sto. Tomas' (UST) Dr. Josephine Lumitao, who is also opposing the measure, said the method, called "pagpapatali" in Filipino, is a sterilization procedure.
She said Fallopian tubes should only be removed or cut if they are diseased. "Mutilation kung hindi. Hindi ako nagli-ligate," she said.
Dr. Esperanza Cabral, a former health secretary, said Lumibao has the right to refuse conducting tubal ligation on her patients. "Pero wala siyang karatan na sabihin sa iba na wag magpaligate," she said.
She stressed that the measure is aimed against abortion. "Walang abortion na isinusulong ang RH Bill."
Cabral also said Golez failed to mention data oral showing that oral contraceptives can decrease a person's chances in having cancer in other parts of the body.
Pro-life activist George Balagtas and Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, director of the University of the Philippines' center for women's studies also presented their arguments either rejecting or supporting the RH bill.
Claudio focused her attention on the Catholic Church's influence on the debate.
She said Catholic leaders in the country should respect diversity of religion and opinion.
"I'm not a Catholic. Hindi totoo na lahat ng Pilipino ay Katoliko. That is not society," she added.
Castro, meanwhile, insisted that the RH bill is against God's laws. "We are opposing God's will to procreate."
Overpopulation and responsible parenthood
Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina said he is opposing the RH bill because the Philippines' problem is not overpopulation. "We are poor not because we are many. We are poor because of mismanagement... corruption," he said.
He added that developed Asian countries like Japan and South Korea have more people per density compared to the Philippines. "ung saan mas marami ang tao, doon mas mataas ang antas ng buhay," he said.
Dr. Johnrob Bantang, a spokesman for for some UP teachers and students, supported Lina's stand.
He said overpopulation is not hindrance to economic and human development.
Lagman answered by saying population density is a fallacy. "Ang tamang sukat ng development ay population growth rate. Population is directly linked to development," he said.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, meanwhile, cited poll data showing that 9 of 10 married Filipinos want family planning. "Hindi ba dapat sila tulungan ng gobyerno?" she asked.
She added that the Vatican allows reproductive health laws in other countries. "Pero tayo dito sa Pilipinas hindi?"
Carlos Celdranm, an outspoken critic of the Catholic Church on the reproductive health issue, raised temperatures in the debate and directly addressed those opposing the measure.
"We've been talking about his for 16 years. People like you have always been shooting this down. Why haven't you implemented with your ideas? Kung hindi effective ang solusyon niyo, you're not doing your job. Come up with a solution right here an dnow or you are part of the problem," he said.
Sex and sensibilities
Other personalities from the 2 sides of the fence also crossed swords over sensitive issues such as sex education and abortion.
"Hindi po ang gobyerno ang may karapatan humubog sa moralidad ng mga bata," Alliance for Families' Girlie Noche.
UST's Dr. Aguirre, meanwhile, used another angle in attacking the RH bill. She said sex education has been around for years and cited a study stating that 9 of 10 Filipino youths are not sexually active.
Akbayan's Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, believes that sex education must begin in the fifth grade, when changes occur in the bodies of boys and girls .
"Alam ko ring hindi lahat ng magulang gusto ito pag-usapan," she added. "Huli na masyado pag itinuro ang sexuality education sa 2nd year high school."
The Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines' Beth Angsioco said the RH bill is not solely for sexual education. "Nandoon din po yung values formation," she said.
Angsioco also mentioned a study showing that 80% of Filipino youths do not know anything about fertility issues.
Garin, meanwhile, reiterated her stand that the RH Bill is against abortion. "Bilang doktor, hindi kami papayag gawing legal ang abortion sa Pilipinas," she said. "Contraceptives not abortifacients."
The discussion continued until the early hours of Monday morning.
SMS, online poll results
Even the results of the SMS and online polls held during the show failed to end arguments on key issues.
In the SMS poll, 69.58% of votes cast reject the RH bill while 30.42% support it.
In the separate online poll held on the Harapan microsite that livestreamed the debate, 63.91% support the RH bill while 36.09% oppose it.
The debate continues.
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
Share your views
Be fruitful and multiply
Be fruitful and multiply
Will22
Most people might think yeah get fruitful and multiply but not everybody knows that it should be accompanied with moral responsibility. As with genuine Christian ethos we know that we are God instruments of pro-creation, which is the main purpose of the union of man and woman. As responsible parents we should know how capable we are bringing up our children, if you know that you cannot handle more children than you have then plan, but plan in accordance with what we been thought as Christians (talking about Christians Teachings that exist for more than 2000 years, NOT according to the teachings of many different Christian denominations founded by men after 16th century and still growing, all claiming to be “biblical” and “true churches”).
In early Christian history, Early Church Fathers (people who lived close to the apostles) condemned any form of artificial contraception even before the complete biblical canon exist as we have it today, the Bible which is the product of the Church Apostolic Tradition, the book which are accepted by many Christians BUT often misinterpreted which often result to many new churches, main reason why some Christian denominations advocate this kind of bill (not surprising).
Catholic Bishops and Priests (definitely in good standing) are simply NOT ignorant when they voice out against this Bill they are SIMPLY upholding what the Church is teaching about artificial contraception in the preservation of the sanctity of life, marriage and procreation in reference to Scriptures and teachings of the Early Christians.
Learn more about Early Church teachings on Artificial Contraception visit:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Contraception_and_Sterilization.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/Birth_Control.asp
Pointing Fingers
Napakadali nating husgahan ang ating mga kaobispohan at kaparian hinggil sa usaping RH Bill. Mas tinitingnan at hinuhusgahan natin ang kanilang personal na buhay at hindi talaga ang totoong isyu. Maraming mga pangit ang idudulot ng RH Bill sa mga kababaihan pati na sa mga kalalakihan hindi lamang ang kanilang konsensiya pati na ang maraming nakakasirang epekto ng mga artipisyal na pamamaraan sa pagkontrol ng populasyon. Dapat nating alalahanin lagi ang sinasabi ni Hesus na "Gawin mo kung ano ang sinasabi ng mga Pariseyo pero wag mong gayahin ang kanilang di kanais-nais na gawaing personal". Kung hipokrito silang mga pari at mga obispo, mas hiporkito tayong naghuhusga sa kanila...
Sheperds Voice - Not the RH Bill
The Bishops are not primarily concerned about the RH Bill, what they are concerned about is are the sheep listening to the voice of the sheperd of whom it flocks?
Not to worry, the gates of hell will not prevail, he will be with us till the end of time.
twitter @jayejayedepp, facebook jayejayedepp@yahoo.com and ym jayejayedepp@yahoo.com
"be fruitful and multiply"
In Genesis chapter 1: verses 26-28, when God said, "be fruitful and multiply", the population then was almost ZERO! Because there were ONLY two people existing on this earth at that time (Adam and Eve). It's a different thing now! We are already MILLIONS at present time. People then can just pick fruits and fish anytime and kill cows and goats, hunt birds, etc. with almost NO ONE who will rebuke them. There's big difference at present time. You see, preachers who have not even experienced to become parents have no idea on what they are saying about "parenthood" and "reproductive" issues. They can only say much IN THE GUISE of "moral obligation." These preachers only criticize issues of poverty BUT have not even done anything to SOLVE IT! I am for RH BILL so long it will not promote abortion.
NO NEED RH BILL to be fruitful and multiply,
It might be deemed logical that the people from the past were far lesser in number than the present. Nevertheless, it does not mean people from the past did not suffer starvation nor poverty though they were few in numbers. So many narratives in the Bible that tells us how people suffered from famine, starvation and poverty and even Christ acknowledge that the poor will be here with us primarily because not of overpopulation but because of greed, selfishness, and indifference to others sad situations. Pointing the personal negative traits of our priests and bishops will not help in clarifying the real issues why WE ARE AGAINST RH-BILL. If we simply focus on the celibate life of the priests and bishops and judged them to be unworthy to demand from us to follow our "moral obligations as Christians", then I think our own President Pnoy should also be ajudged as such. He is not married but he is trying to dictate what we are suppose to do as Christian parents. ALL OF US HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO END POVERTY, but our politicians are the one depriving many of us to enjoy a comfortable life here in this world because of their unsatiable greed and selfishness.
RH BILL
eudcation? no problem. people need to have a informed decision.
having had enough education, i will never expose my one and only wife to "artificial" contraception. it is not only morally unsound but the side effects are dangerous.
read about them .
i cannnot bear to expose my wife just to indulge my sexual desires! i do not use my wife as a sexual object.
i am am the husband of maria.
supilin
and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and SUBDUE IT: KJV Genesis 1:28 ( subdue sa tagalog PIGILIN o SUPILIN.) ito na ang sinasabi sa bible na subdue,pigilin o supilin sa pamamagitan ng RH BILL.
RH BILL
Kung talaga ngang nacacancer ang birth control, di ba ma mas maganda na ipaalam ito sa tao?
That's what the RH bill is for! to EDUCATE people. to show them the advantage and disadvantage, positive and negative effects of those things. tapos sila na bahala kung anong choice ang gagawin nila.
Kahit siguro yung mga gumagamit nun e hindi nila alam kung ano yung risks at advantages ng birth control, kung meron lang sanang RH bill na nageEDUCATE sa kanila.
Panlalansi ng DOH at Gobyerno sa RH Billl
Yon nga ang masaklap sa DOH at gobyerno natin... hindi nila sinasabi ang mga masasamang epekto ng mga artipisyal na gamot at pamamaraan sa pagplaplano ng pamilya... sabagay kung sasabihin naman nila sa madlang-tao di walang kukuha, diba!!! Kung ikaw ba naman ang nagtitinda ng mga bagay, sasabihin mo ba ang pangit na katangian nito sa pinagtitindahan mo, hindi diba!
Yes, it is certainly NOT an RH Bill of the Catholic Church
Yes, it is certainly NOT an RH Bill of the Catholic Church, because IT IS government propose bill. It is not a duty of the Church to create state laws otherwise there will be no separation of Church and State at all. What the Church does is to guide people to act in a way God wanted us as rightful Christians, acting morally NOT the way WE think what moral is BUT acting morally in conformity with the Church teachings and Scriptures.
Why NOT act in accordance with what we think moral is? Because we differ in what we think, one act might be thought morally acceptable to somebody BUT TO MANY it is NOT and vice versa. We need guidance, in which comes the duty of the Church. If the government will advocate the use of artificial contraception or birth control as part of this Bill, what would be next? Legalising abortion? Euthanasia? Some will argue that it wouldn’t be the case, but look at the western civilisations in particular, they started just like that - they allowed artificial contraception then followed legalisation of abortion, euthanasia and more. In protecting the sanctity of life, marriage and procreation for more than 2000 years the Catholic Church remain consistent to the teachings of the Scriptures and of the Early Church Fathers (peoples who lived close to the apostles, the Early Christians).
Learn more:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Birth_Control.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/Contraception_and_Sterilization.asp