Been stormed and bothered by Pros the past weeks that I decided to write down my reasons why I am so against this bill:
1. I am against the use of contraceptives. Call me Manang, KJ or whatever, I don't care. Because I care more for the health of women like me. Currently, these contraceptives are readily available in health centers, being distributed to women from poor families. Are these women even oriented of the harmful effects these contraceptives can bring? I have a friend who once used pills and later developed a lump in her breast. Her OB gyne (from a reputable hospital) admitted that the lump can be an effect of the pills she herself recommended my friend.
2. Hence, I wouldn't want the taxpayers' money be spent on these. According to Rep. Roilo Golez, the RH bill is only 99th in the priority list of the Congress. Now it puzzles me why is there an ardent force pushing this bill be passed soonest. As a taxpayer, I'd rather have the money be spent on really basic needs like food, shelter and education. Recently, I watched a documentary on TV showing how poorly managed rural schools are. There was a school with blackboards and roofs ripped off by the past typhoons. Some children have to walk 7kms or more and cross wild rivers just to reach school since there isn't any in their barrios. Considering such situations, why is the government slashing the budget for education? Why aren't there enough books and classrooms? Don't you think it would be better if we allot the budget for causes like this instead of purchasing contraceptives and distributing them to the poor. If you ask a beggar on the street, I am very sure he'll choose a cup of rice over a handful of condoms.
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4. Values education over sex education. Values ed should not only be taught to kids but to grown-ups as well. What happened to "Honesty is the best policy" posted on the walls of our classrooms when we see dishonesty so rampant these days? We were taught that telling a lie is a sin but why do we see good actors during hearings, acting as if innocent? We were asked to memorize the Ten Commandments in elementary but why are crimes so common now? As grown-ups, have we forgotten what we were taught in school? With all the negative things happening around, which do you think is more important: Values education or sex education? As morals are strengthened early in life, people will naturally embody discipline, respect and faithfulness. And if each of us will practice these virtues, do you think we will still need to be taught sex education?
5. Empower the poor than controlling them. Instead of considering our people as liabilities, why not see them as assets. Instead of controlling childbirths, why not empower the poverty-stricken families by teaching them skills to help alleviate their current situation. More and more people are in the streets begging because of lack of employment opportunities. Most of them have not even gone to school. If budget will be allocated to skills training, more people will be able to get the right jobs for themselves here and abroad. Consequently, these people can later on support their own families as well as contributing to the progress of the society.
6. Overpopulation is a myth. We feel the metro is so congested, hence concluding there is overpopulation. So we love going on out-of-town trips to relish the greens in the countryside. With this experience, can you say that there is overpopulation when are still areas of undeveloped land in the provinces? The cities have gone crowded because there are no employment opportunities in the rural areas. Thus, families migrate to the metropolis in the hope of getting a job to ease their poverty. If equal job opportunities and infrastructure are given to the provinces, do you think people will take the a gamble in the urban jungle? Even quality health care is only concentrated in the city. Once I went to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila and found out that people from the farthest corners of the country come there waiting in long queues for their turn since a medical facility is not available in their province.
7. Pregnancy is not a disease. I am deeply bothered by the way RH Bill addresses pregnancy as if it is a dreaded disease. Sure, pregnant women should be treated with utmost care and health services should be readily and affordably available. Pro-RH guys keep on insisting that this bill will answer the increasing incidence of maternal deaths. But did you know that this section on "pre-natal and post-natal care" has already been included in the approved Magna Carta for Women (2009)? In Section 13, it says that women should have access to: (1) Maternal care to include pre- and post-natal services to address pregnancy and infant health and nutrition; (2) Promotion of breastfeeding; (3) Legal, ethical, medically safe and effective methods of family planning;
This Magna Carta for Women has already been approved, why then is this aspect of the law not enacted? If this is effectively carried out, do you think there is still a need for the RH bill?
Giving our lawmakers a benefit of the doubt, perhaps the RH bill sponsors also have their good intentions. But in my opinion, with several groups opposing, I think our congressmen should pause and think why after several years, amendments and presidents, this bill remains unapproved and controversial. I am standing against the RH bill not because I am a staunch follower of the Catholic Church. In fact, I was once believed that RH Bill is the answer to poverty until I researched and attended several fora that I fully understood what it really is all about. If you'll notice, I only pointed out objective and medical reasons why I oppose the bill and not focused on the moral implications, otherwise I will sound prejudiced.
I hope this answers why I am fighting against the RH bill and somehow enlightened those who still don't know what their stand is. For more info, please read http://fightrhbill.blogspot.com/
