RH Bill: What's In It For You?

Source: PinoyExchange

We've heard the clamor about the RH bill. Many religious sector especially the Catholic Church are very active in promoting their stand and views about the issue. So many dissenting opinions everywhere. And sometimes, it just made me think that they wasted too much money in debate and bickering. This is the problem of too much democracy--everybody just wanted to say something that they never realize they have spent too much time and money and ignore what is really expedient. And as the days go by, more mothers are giving birth--some of these poor mothers are throwing their babies in the garbage dead or abandoning their hungry and cold infant along the streets. We see that a lot on TV and read it on the papers.

What prod those mothers to heartlessly leave their children? Obviously, in the current state of the Philippines where there is a very clear and big gap between the poor and the rich, poverty is one of the main reason. So sickening!


Country's population

For such a small country, the Philippines has 95.8 million people as of January 2012. It was expected that we would hit a 97.6 million mark this year. By 2014, the population may increase to 101.2 million. Do we consider ourselves lucky to have this kind of number?

A large population in a small country can be compared to a big family in a very small space. A big family, say 5-10 members, living in one single space are less relaxed with less food to eat, less opportunities for better education and a bleak future. There may be food; however, because the family has more mouths to feed, each member would receive a meager share insufficient to feed their hungry stomach. Not only that, children don't get enough attention, love and care from their parents because they are too many of them. 

The problem with having a country with a big population is higher demand of food, higher crime rate, too much pollution, and not enough job opportunities for everyone. 

If we are not just too many, then everything wouldn't be in the state of chaos.  

What is RH Bill?

The Reproductive Health Bill, known as the RH Bill, are Philippine bills aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care. The bills have become the center of a contentious national debate. There are presently two bills with the same goals:

• House Bill No. 4244 or An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development, and For Other Purposes introduced by Albay 1st district Representative Edcel Lagman, and 
• Senate Bill No. 2378 or An Act Providing For a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

(Source: Reproductive Health Bill)

House Bill No. 4244 shall be known as the "The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011".

Part of the Declaration of Policy states: " The State recognizes and guarantees the exercise of the universal basic human right to reproductive health by all persons, particularly of parents, couples and women, consistent with their religious convictions, cultural beliefs and the demands of responsible parenthood. Toward this end, there shall be no discrimination against any person on grounds of sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities, political affiliation and ethnicity."

Furthermore, it states: " The state likewise guarantees universal access to medically safe, legal, affordable, effective and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information and education thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children, and among other underprivileged sectors."

(Source: House Bill - House of Representatives)


The bill doesn't coerce women or couple to use a method nor does it states that it impose a certain number of child per family. At the end, it is still a personal choice.

The passing or rejection of the RH Bill mean so much to the future of this country. As a citizen of this republic, we are going to reap what is going to be decided in the senate. So, pray that the people in charge of passing the law realize how big their responsibilities are to our future and to the future of our children.


As a Christian

I am a self-confessed bible believe and follower. However, I am also entitled to my opinion. I am a pro-RH bill. What helped me decide are these biblical truths:

1. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 

(Genesis 1:28, NIV Version)

God told us to be fruitful and to increase in number. He also said to subdue it. Subdue means to control, subjugate, conquer, suppress, discipline, etc. Therefore, controlling the population is one of God's instruction to men.

2. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

(1 Co 7:2-5, NIV Version)

The bible encourage every man and woman to have their own wife and husband so they can do the sexual act with liberty and without the guilt of fornication. The husband and wife has duties to fulfill to each other. I don't see any abstinence in here except for the reason of prayer when they have to briefly deprive themselves by mutual consent.

3. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

(1 Co 7:7-9, NIV Version)

The bible clearly understand how difficult to suppress the desires of the flesh. Hence, Paul advice to the unmarried and widows that if they could no longer contain themselves, they should marry.

With all of these, I leave it up to you to think, understand and judge.