10/23/2011
ARGUMENTS IN RH BILL
The Reproductive health bill or RH bill is a comprehensive law in the Philippines that promotes birth control and maternal the bill has been introduced as early as the year 2000 by Albany Representative Excel Lagan but the bill has not been implemented nor approved in the congress and in the senate. The bill is designed to control the population in the country by promoting family planning methods and contraceptives using condoms, pills and other devices that will be distributed to the public they will also disseminate information in various communities and municipalities.

There are thousands of people opposing such bill including then on, the academe, some political people and the church are against the bill. Through this concept there are various arguments that arises the contra has been debating for years and they are arguing about its effect. As of this year of 2011 the implementation of such law has not been allowed, the final debate and the implementation or abolition of the law is expected to be reviewed within the year of and hopefully it will be finalized by 2012 to make the necessary resolution if such law is worthy to be included in the Philippines.

It is true that most Filipinos are in favor of family, there are bills that also promote such family planning method like Senate bill 2378 by Miriam Defense Santiago and it is almost the same system, but there are differences in RH bill and these differences creates so much arguments. Here are some of the following arguments I have collected from various people who are engage in rallies and activities that opposes bills including, this also includes the people who are willing and in favor to accept the bill. These are the collection of professionals and layman’s opinions from people around the community and this includes the following;
Pro:
1. The Philippines belongs to the top 10 of the world’s most populous country in the world and countries that have been over populated may experience poverty because of the scarcity and limited distribution of goods and services. RH bill is highly needed in our country to minimize over population and poverty as well.
2. The rights of the individual and couple can be controlled of how many children they would like to have in their family according to their conditions and ability to raise their children and their family.
3. Children are taught in school from elementary to high school about reproductive so that they can be responsible about their actions. They are prepared in the near future when time comes and their mind will be condition not to engage in such manner. The children will be warned.
4. Public officials who are found to restrict the delivery of such services and those who hinder the funds for such devices for birth control will be prosecuted. This will reduce the corruption in small units of the government.
5. The Social Weather Station (SWS) survey shows that more than 70% of people are in favor of the RH bill and accordingly is should not be delayed.
6. The bill will empower the women and the death of maternal health care for women will be lessen since there will also be available sources of minerals like iron, calcium, provided by the DOH.
7. The couple can still be engaged in a satisfying sex life legally without trouble.

Contra:
1. It is not the over population that has been the problem in the Philippines but it is corruption of the officials, and over population does not simply says that poverty will be experienced, government from China and Japan was once over populated but they still manage to succeed as one of the most highly developed countries.
2. The rights of the couple including those who are not married will also be involved since the government has been promoting sex using various safety methods.
3. Sex Education should not be taught in school. Children tends to wonder and exploits such irresponsible acts, things that they do not experienced can stimuli their mind to perform such acts just like in drugs, alcoholism and smoking.
4. The funds of the government should be used in a more worthwhile expenditure rather than contraceptives. The small units of the government and their privilege in funds support for contraceptives can also be their gateway to corruption.
5. It is quite obvious that people wanted a reform but not necessarily RH bill, such survey are performed only in limited locations and obscure not a determinants.
6. DOH has been distributing various forms of drugs and medicines this is included in the government budget and not necessarily because of RH bill
7. The use of contraceptives is not illegal in this country even before, but promoting it in the community is like promoting immorality and everyone can be engage with it outside marriage since it is the government who are endorsing such acts.