Many believe that economic and social problems in the Philippines are caused by the country's high population rate. Current census indicates that the country has over 90 million people and estimated to grow exponentially in the coming years. This is why lawmakers formulated the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill that will provide reproductive health care programs aimed to slow down the population rate and distribute proper social services to everyone.
The RH bill seeks reproductive health as a "
prime responsibility" of the government. Among others it mandates health and local government agencies to educate women and couples about birth control, maternal health and other reproductive health issues. The bill is opposed by the Catholic Church because they disagree with the bill's promotion of artificial birth control methods (i.e use of condoms and contraceptive pills) which they insist is a another form of abortion.
The issue of RH in the United States (my of home for 10 years) is also a heated debate. In fact it has become an all out culture war between two opposing ideologies. For traditionalists, the term "reproductive health" has become a euphemism for abortion and are against it because the secular progressives have used it as a Trojan Horse to advance legalized abortion - a cause the secular progressive agenda is heavily pushing in the US.
Both pro and anti RH bill supporters in the Philippines has good and well thought arguments on why the bill is good or bad for Filipinos. Question is what side are you on? This is a good example of how important it is for Filipino Christians to know all the fact to make a well-informed position and engage others in healthy conversations on the issue. Moreover it's important to know and practice apologetics in our Christian faith to determine which side of the debate really stand for Biblical sanctity of human life and which argument are
absurd and who are acting like
zealots.
What do you think?
(Click here to read the RH Bill)
reproductive health bill proponents should read this:
ReplyDeletehttp://jcc34.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/the-health-risk-the-rhb-proponents-should-know/
High population can be one reason of these all social and all the economic problems but the government must take proper initiative for all these problems.
ReplyDeletethats true and thats why rhbill should be implemented
DeleteIn which part does this bill say that abortion is legalized? I think the bill is reasonable.
ReplyDeleteI think the bill clearly stated the reason. I am into it. I prefer the bill approved than seeing thousands of homeless children.
ReplyDeletethis bill for using condos is good for our economy to prevent the o ver flowing of ou populations and to prevent the sexual diseases
ReplyDeletewhy not just make a bill that promote a limited number of children a married couple can have? because for me, approving the rh bill also symbolizes the approval of the government imitating other countries for being too liberated where in fact Philippines has its own culture of being conservative. if this bill is approved, then the 'real' Philippines will be gone with the wind and it would be like we are still under captive by the Americans and I assure everyone, when teens reach the age of 16, 7 out 10 won't stay virgin anymore. why not just promote the conservativeness of the Philippines and promote self-control to hormonal people?
ReplyDeleteIs that too much to ask?
It depends on a person if they will follow the RH Bill. What matters is that our country is trying to stand up and is trying to do a thing thats shouldve be done a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteThis bill has become the center of a contentious national debate. I hope congress and senate approve this bill because our population is increasing yearly.
ReplyDeleteI think im confused from what i read..someone needs to think a thousand times before,going to the side of RH BIll.But in contrary,It has also benefits..and i dont think that abortion is stated on any of the provisions of this bill..and from the word contraceptives.."contra" means agaisnt the "ception" pregnancy..they are about to do it..so there is no life created yet.
ReplyDeleteUgh, i dont undergo the favor of this law. First, this is against the will of the side of catholicism which catholic people takes a parallel or dark view on the government. Second, Its LIFE ! the only way is DISCIPLINE. Responsible PEOPLE ! If we rely on this Law, we are commiting a blind-type sin. If we will just be responsible as a committed person, THRES NO OVER POPULATION AND THIS STUPID LAW WILL NEVER BE CREATED... EVER !
ReplyDeleteConversation between an RH Bill Advocate and a Prolifer:
ReplyDeleteRH Bill Advocate: The RH Bill will educate the people about sex, contraception and family planning. How can this be bad?
Prolifer: Yes, but it will also teach that sex can be recreational and so the youth will use contraception as an excuse for safe sex and promiscuity. It will destroy the very fabric of morality in the Philippines.
RHBA: Aren't young people already into sex and promiscuity? Aren't there so many unwanted pregancies and hushed-up abortions?
P: Don't generalize! Not all young people are into sex! The government should promote more activities for sports to keep the youth's mind occupied!
RHBA: So when a boy meets a girl and attraction happens they should just play basketball? Or run a marathon?
P: Don't be sarcastic. Boys and girls should learn to control their urges for sex.
RHBA: Isn't the control of the sexual urge a form of birth control, too?
P: Yeah, but at least they didn't actually do the act of intercourse.
RHBA: I see. So if you don't indulge in intercourse it's okay? What if they just indulge in necking and petting and oral sex? Would that be okay with you?
P: Certainly not. The body is sacred. It is to be shared only with your husband or wife.
RHBA: Can husband and wife have recreational sex? It is a great stress reliever, you know.
P: Certainly not. Sex was never meant to be recreational. It is procreational. If coitus engenders pregnancy then so be it. If coitus does not result to pregnancy then so be it also. Rhythm method is natural and wise.
RHBA: Rhythm is also unreliable.
P: Yes, but it is natural and does not go against what the Church teaches.
RHBA: Can the church help unwed moms support their unwanted children?
P: Certainly not! Whoever made the baby should feed and support it! The Church only guides.
RHBA: So, if the Church can't feed and support all the unwanted babies, can't the Church leave it to the government to at least educate the people not to make them and birth them? It's a social problem, you know.
P: Life and death are a natural occurence. If a baby is not fed and supported, it will perish. It is not the responsibility of the Church to keep it alive if the parents cannot do their jobs.
RHBA: So why have a baby then if all you wanted was recreational sex?
P: So why have sex at all if the chance of a baby wasn't considered in the picture?
RHBA: This is going nowhere.
P: It will if you change sides.
RHBA: Fat chance.
P: (Lifts hands the air in exasperation)
Everything has it's ups and downs.
ReplyDeleteIf RH Bill is not implemented,then people continue to die. But it also means that the people's original values are still strong.
If RH Bill is implemented, then the death rate is lessened, but it would also mean that many people will no longer be afraid of having sex.
i am against the rh bill, the very first reason, we have much more problems than that, "floods, corruption, high crime rate, drugs, trash, etc." second, if they will implement the rh bill, it mean to say that sex is free and the young ages can make intercourse of that. so if for example, a wife and a husband is using a condom, if the husband finds another wife, it is possible to commit adultery because will intercourse to the other woman? same as the woman? how is it possible for you rh bill advocates to see your teenage children is making intercourse of the other teens. and lastly, open your eyes my brothers and sisters, look at the disco houses, bars, and other night bars, have you seen the young ones their? of course yes, that the problems, without the drugs and liquors sexual intercourse will be lesser.
ReplyDeleteTO the condom makers, why are you selling this to any establishments? are you insane?, or you are just thinking for you to get money out from that. now open your eyes for the reality, that because of your condoms your children are no longer virgin, they can intercourse anytime, anywhere, even in front of you. and your husbands or wives are going to the other hands. it is not in implementing this way, discipline is the key not your condom to have money...
our ballooning population is very alarming not only to us humans but also to bio diversity.because of population growth the demand and supply in any commodities specially for food in increasing our ocean is over fish,our forest is destructed to be planted by good for human feed and and animals more animals for food means more land to cultivate. tayo loang ba my karapatan mabuhay?pano na other species at welfare ng Earth.all this distruction is because of demand of growing population of man.darating panahon we have to sacrifice our conservation area because of hard headed people.Tao Sakim kaba talaga?sariling lahi o sang kata uhan lang ba mahalaga para sayo?
ReplyDeleteokay...it's a sin, the church says, to prevent life from becoming. of course it is...but isn't it a greater sin to let a child live without a father, eating a lot less than three times a day, having to work on the streets at a very young age, getting little or no formal education at all,growing up in environments not fit for a child, being with bad company and eventually growing up to become criminals and public enemies while blaming life to be very cruel on them, etc...how's the church doing on that? because right now i don't see the church doing anything sufficient for this problem at all. let's face it. the phillipine govt., with all its internal issues and stuff, is not capable of handling this the way the church wants it to be handled. they only have one option left and it is the RH bill. if the church doesn't like, then do they have a better solution? i think none. our govts. changed many times, the church did not since spanish times. where did that take us? you can see that in the streets, the news, and virtually everywhere. think about it. the US have a pop. of about 300M. we have about 100M. that's about 1/3 of theirs. but our land area is certainly not a third of theirs. we don;t tha area of the US, China or India to hold so much people. and the ratio of a huge pop. to a small land area and limited resources translates to violence, crime, poverty, a low quality of life, etc. the negative outcomes outweigh the positive. so, which is the greater sin?
ReplyDeleteIm neutral RH Bill ok Anti-RH Bill also OOKK it depends how to understand and how to adopt and use the proceedures given by our BAD govt which corruption is very rampant in our land LET US WEAK UP NOW i understand SEN. JOEY LINA spoke about JAPAN what is JAPAN compare to our PHILIPPINES they are nothing in terms of NATURAL RESOURCES they relying us they DONT single resources LET US STAND, NOT TO GET ANY single PESO DURING ELECTION, so that no OFFICIALS CORRUPTING OUR money, FOR the official sitting chairs SPECIALLY MILITARY OFFICIALS please stop supplying ARMS to our Brothermuslims in SOUTHERN MINDANAO STOP COLLECTING MILLIONS OF PESO from ARMS YOU SOLD, to our LOCAL OFFICIALS LET TRANSPARENT THE PROJECTS you proposed. About the population GROUTH in our ISLANDS that is TRUE this is one the CAUSES of our POVERTY in our LAND, 2nd GOVT OFFICIALS CORRUPTION, 3rd VERY POOR GOVERNANCE. Why we used our money during elections? For what reasonsssssssss? VERY clear this POINT.
ReplyDeleteActually, kahit naman mapasa ang RH bill, In the end it will still be optional.
ReplyDeleteI go for the bill. Kasi look at the people who are living in Dagat dagatan, yun na lang. Everytime na dadaan kami dun. Nagkalat ang mga bata na walang suot, sa kalsada lang. Pinababayaan ng magulang. One reason for that is lack of education.
Domino effect lang naman yan eh. Idagdag mo na ung over polluted nadin tayo dahil tumitira yan sa mga dapat hindi tirhan. Yung waste nila hindi properly nadidispose.
For me RH bill is just being rational. Although I am completely open to the opinion of those who are anti. Kay Pope John Paul II ko pa narinig yung one of the reason kung bakit ayaw ng church sa ganito.
Anti RHB are just haunted by their ghosts of immoral doings in the past... if you're clean in and out and your conscience is clean, I don't see anyone disagreeing with this timely act of the government... open your eyes, look around you. with or without the RHB we cannot end immorality.. if not the RH bill, what do you think is the best answer for population explosion and the ever worsening Poverty in our country? You cannot oppose on this one without presenting a solution.. sino ba ang masugid na kumokontra? ang simbahan na wala namang kaedi-ediya sa totoong problema ng masa...
ReplyDeletefilipinos have unique culture of being conservative?? every civilization in the world started with a very conservative beginnings... let's just face it.. humans know too much sins now that even the religious sector commit them,, i say we regulate it... without regulation all of us can go fooling ourselves that immorality is not happening in this world...
ReplyDelete@Inoh Barrientos you gotta stop living in a dream fellow citizen of planet earth... your church did not stop population explosion so shut up with that... actually I think they (your church) just want this problem to go on and on and on... unwanted pregnancy is happening... and what are you gonna do about it? preach?
ReplyDeletethe very root of those problem you mentioned is population explosion,,, the resources are not enough to feed all so the strong corrupts.. the flood problem is also caused by population explosion. can't you see the big picture? the only specie that causes all the earth bound problems is us, humans that's why i believe that our growth in number must be regulated...
ReplyDelete..kakatawa nga ..karamihan sa anti rh bill na kakilala ko..sila yung tipo ng katoliko na pagkatapos magsimba murang mura...sinungaling ..mahilig sa hindi parehas...babaero....sugarol....paimbabaw...kung tunay ang aral ng KATOLIKO...kahit anong bill payan tiyak maayos ang PILIPINAS....karamihan ng mga makasalanan sa PILIPINAS sigurado ako KATOLIKO...karamihan ng POLITIKO...rapist...kriminal ..di ba katoliko
ReplyDeleteThis is the indication that the Morality in the Philippines getting lower and lower...I am not pro rh bill but I am not also Catholic, Many people are looking on the problems cause by over population, and thinking that they can solve the problem by another problem...in ethics "An act to be good should be totally good, any defect that will render it will be bad". BAD>>BAD>>>BAD>>>>
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of the solution is good, but the effect of this???????
implement a one child policy.
ReplyDeleteits the only way. the church need to change, this is not the year 1600 anymore. we live in the year 2011. everything else has changed and adapted, its time the church do the same.
GISING ! MATAGAL NA PANAHON NA ANG PANLOLOKO NG SIMBAHANG KATOLIKO SA MGA TAO. dapat i-ABOLISH na natin yang simbahang Katoliko. THEY WANT TO BE CALLLED CHRISTIANS PERO ANG DAMING KAUTUSAN NG DIYOS ANG NILALABAG. Ginagamit lang ng mga pari ang Diyos para magkamal ng maraming pera at dinadala sa Roma. Puro panloloko lang ang ginagawa ng mga pari sa mga tao. At ngayon gusto nang makialam sa ating gobyerno.
ReplyDeleteAng sabi ng panginoon, Mt 10:8 Mangagpagaling kayo ng mga may sakit, mangagpabangon kayo ng mga patay, mangaglinis kayo ng mga ketong, mangagpalabas kayo ng mga demonio: tinanggap ninyong walang bayad, ay ibigay ninyong walang bayad. Pero anong ginawa nila? KASAL-P1,000 (depende sa dami ng ninong); BINYAG-P1,000 (depende sa dami ng ninong); LIBING-P1,000; PAMISA SA PATAY-P500 (di naman nabubuhay);
Ginagamit lang ng mga pari na KAMPON NG DEMONYO) ang Diyos. Niloloko ang mga tao. Maliban sa pera, NILABAG PA NILA ANG IKALAWANG KAUTUSAN, gumagawa pa ng kung sinong Santo para sambahin ng mga tao. pati si Maria sinasamba na.
Ang sabi ng panginoon: Deut.5:7-9 Huwag kang magkakaroon ng ibang Dios sa harap ko. Huwag kang gagawa para sa iyo ng larawang inanyuan na kawangis ng anomang anyong nasa itaas sa langit, o ng nasa ibaba sa lupa, o ng nasa tubig sa ilalim ng lupa: Huwag mong yuyukuran sila o paglilingkuran man sila: sapagka't akong Panginoon mong Dios ay mapanibughuing Dios, na aking dinadalaw ang kasamaan ng mga magulang sa mga anak, sa ikatlo at sa ikaapat na salin ng nangapopoot sa akin.
Kelan ba kayo magigising ? MAGBASA KAYO NG BIBLIA marami kayong matutuklasan na mga kautusan ng Diyos na harapang nilalabag ng mismong simbahang katoliko......
You are absolutely "RIGHT"!!!
ReplyDeletedati n nmng mrong contraceptives ah. bkit klangan pang isabatas? cguro may commission sa contraceptives ang author nyan..!haist naman!
ReplyDeleteI'M NOT REALLY AGAINST IN CONTRACEPTIVES
I'M AGAINST ON THE FUNDING OF THIS RH BILL
KUKURAKUTIN LANG YAN EH..SUS!
Bakit pa kasi may RH BILL? Kung may self-control tayong lahat, wala na tayong pinoproblema ngayon, eh kaso wala eh. Kaya yan ang naisip ng iba? Suwayin ang utos ng Diyos at tumalikod sa Kanya? Oh come on. Kung ang problema ng gobyerno ay ang resources, mali sila. Ang dami nating resources, di lang nla alam GAMITIN, I DISTRIBUTE, at I MANAGE dahil sa CORRUPTION. And sa mga PRO-RH BILL, THINK. Sa tingin nyo kung mamimigay ng LIBREng condoms, hindi matetempt ang kabataan na gumawa ng kasalanan? Hay. Kakayanin nyo bang makita ang mga anak niyo na wala ng pakielam sa IMAGE at DIGNITY niya, lalo na kung isa syang babae? VIRGINITY is a gift from our Lord, not only for our HUSBANDS, but also for ourselves. And so what kung madami nang kabataang hindi VIRGIN ngayon? They can still have their second virginity kasi kaya tayong patawarin ng Diyos, at kaya pa nating pigilan ang mga kabataan na gumawa ng kasalanan, para pag aaral muna ang tutukan. NO TO RH-BILL. :)
ReplyDeleteanti
ReplyDeletebakit satingin ninyo ano ang makakasagot sa kahirapan ng ating bansa edukasyon o pagbibigay ng mga konseptib
self discipline is the best way,,,,
ReplyDeleteThere are many ways to lessen the population, like giving out or using condoms but abortion, that's inhumane.
ReplyDeleteRH bill is made by the government to lessen the poverty of Filipinos.Overpopulation is one reason why the state cannot allocate properly the needs of our fellows. now, they are trying to help us through this bill.. to inform families about their health. it's all a matter of choice. the bill doesn't force anybody to use contraception. i believe that proper information is best and that's what they are trying to do. i am concern with my fellow Filipinos. if you'll say that we are not overpopulated, then maybe u haven't gone to a place where houses are crowded and most children from those places are found on the streets.. begging for something to eat.their parents cannot sustain anymore their needs. their responsibilities didn't bother them. based on my christian perspective, i believe that God has given us free will but with control. i think RH bill should really be approved.
ReplyDeletethe priests doesn't know what poverty is cause they are living peacefully. they don't have to think on what to eat for the next day caused they are fed..
ReplyDeleteim pro the real thing is that we as filipinos is very or super irrational on things really matters as baing on this planet. the real thing s in our individual mind, it is in mind setting, and self control or descipline. I respect the bill and i also fear the laws of God as a christian.. and that matters most..gets!!!!god bless. jeber here
ReplyDeleteFilipinos are always saying "go forth and multiply"..please before you follow the word multiply, mag-isip mana kayo.
ReplyDeleteThis is way too much. It will violate God's law as well as destroy human's morality. Sex is a gift from above. A sacred thing given ONLY for a married couple. People are talking base on what they see not what they understand from behind the picture. If they want to control population boom then why not educate people about the consequences they're going to face after having sex instead of discussing how to get pregnant and how to perform sex. Believe me, this will worsen everything. We are receiving catastrophe's as punishment to our sins, then your asking for more sins to happen. *Sigh.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you know, RH bills is not really the solution to avoid economic and social problems. Hard work and self-control (discipline) of people is the only solution to avoid these kind of problems.
ReplyDeletewe must pass this rh bill. the bible doesn't tell or even mention about this. so the Lord doesn't against this rh bill.
ReplyDeletei am hezron Bahague. the birth control is not mention in the bible. so in other words the Lord is not against this birth control. birth control is not a sin because this birth control is exist because of sex and this sex is a gift of God to those married. this is a holy gift. just imagine if the couple wait for the right time for them to have sex i don't think so if they can wait that time. that's why many father lost in their house because the wife is not their day so the man will find a way. hezronbahague@yahoo.com
ReplyDeletewe do not need to implement Rh Bill. I think it would be far better if our government would just implement a policy on Birthspacing. there is what we call the "late, long, few" policy. this is about having a child on the right age, greater spacing between children, and having less children. all we need is that policy. but if ever, this would be implemented,our government should be very strict and ofcourse be fair about it. actually, a large population does not mean that it will degrade our economic status. because on the future the new generation will be also the ones who will provide for the facilities and necessities of our country. furthermore, they would be the ones who will join the workforce of our country for the betterment of our society. The only problem in the Philippines is the DISCIPLINE..if the think they knew that they can not support and sustain a big family, so why do they have to make a big family..i think our government has still a lot to do with this.. they should create programs regarding on building family..
ReplyDelete