Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Yes to Choice!

Blogger's Note: I have been meaning to write this for a really long time, but I have been too saddled with personal and professional stress to even start. I think it's still not too late to write about this.


At long last, the debates about House Bill 5043, also known as the Reproductive Health Bill, have started at the plenary of the House of Representatives. This bill, authored by Representatives Edcel Lagman, Janette Garin, Narciso Santiago III, Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Mark Mendoza and Jesus Madrona, aims to promote and support reproductive health care services to the public, especially the poor who cannot afford those kinds of services. The bill also seeks to guarantee the freedom of informed choice of couples, as well as to provide information and education about different family planning methods. Of course, the bill has faced stiff opposition from the Catholic Church, who has not held back in pressuring lawmakers to oppose or withdraw their support for the bill. Some, those who have been cowed, have withdrawn their support.

I support the Reproductive Health Bill because we have to realize that our population needs to be managed in order for our country to have some sort of progress. It is foolish to think that we can just allow our population to grow faster than what our social infrastructure can handle. Those who insinuate otherwise need to reconsider whatever crap they are saying. Hindi yata sila nakakaranas na sumakay ng MRT kapag rush hour. In relation to that, we are still lacking thousands of classrooms, thousands of hospital beds and thousands of health centers, and yet, the population is still growing. Where in the world would we get the billions of pesos that we need to overcome the existing deficit and provide for the new needs?

That leads me to my second point. Opponents of the bill say that corruption is the real problem of this country, not overpopulation. They contend that we should just turn our sights on fighting corruption. That makes my head ache. News flash: Overpopulation is as much a problem as corruption. If our politicians do not have the political will to tackle something like overpopulation, how would they ever have the balls to fight corruption?

My third point is that the bill "will just promote abortion", as its opponents say. Look, I've read the bill and there's nothing there that promotes abortion. In fact, Section 3 (m) states that "...as abortion remains a crime and is punishable,...". Which part of that don't they understand? Opponents of the bill also say that it will just promote "immorality and infidelity". Hay naku, kesehodang nagco-condom si lalaki o hindi, kesehodang nagpi-pills si babae o hindi, kapag gustong mangaliwa ng isang tao, gagawin at gagawin niya pa rin iyun.

My fourth point is that if we do not manage our population, Nature would, and in methods we might see as catastrophic. As many of our towns lie in "geo-hazard zones", as a recent study by the DENR's Mines and Geosciences Bureau showed, more of our people are in danger of being caught in flashfloods, landslides and the like.

My fifth point is that these people think that a large population will save our economy by converting our people to be OFW's. Proof of this is a 2007 report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) that featured a statement by Arroyo's presidential consultant on family affairs Jose Sandejas. He said, “Even if you are not able to educate them as well you would like, in the end their capability to quickly learn skills in the health services, in construction, as seamen, is going to save the Philippines”. Wala akong masamang tinapay sa mga OFW, pero ano ba, OFW na si Tatay sa Saudi, DH si Nanay sa Hong Kong, nasa Canada naman si Ate at nasa States si Kuya, pati si Bunso at ang apo, gagawing alila sa ibang bansa? Hindi man lang ba sisikapin ng mga gagong ito sa gobyerno na bigyan ang mga Pilipino ng trabaho sa sarili nating bansa? Ito na ba ang ipinagmamalaki nilang "economic policy"?

To be honest, I am writing this because I am sick and tired of all the lies, the innuendoes and the propaganda being thrown against this bill. Nakakabuwisit na ang mga kaipokrituhan ng mga "alagad ng Diyos" para lang harangin ang batas na ito. Kelangan natin itong batas na ito, hindi lang para sa atin, kundi para sa kapwa natin Pilipino at sa bansa natin. Masama na bang maghangad ng mabuti para sa ating bansa? Masama na bang maghangad ng mabuti para sa kapwa natin Pilipino? Hindi raw bibigyan ng Komunyon ang mga kongresistang susuporta sa batas na ito. Ibig sabihin ba, ayos lang bigyan ng Komunyon ang mga magnanakaw, ang mga mandaraya at ang mga corrupt, basta hindi susuportahan ang HB 5043? Pardon my language, but that is total bullshit. No wonder the Catholic Church is already losing its flock. Not only by continuing to support the hopelessly corrupt and illegitimate Arroyo regime, they are opposing a bill that could do so much good for our country.

To cap this blog, since the opponents of HB 5043 are continuing to cite religious and moral grounds to junk it, let me give the moral and religious ground of supporting this bill. Life is sacred, right? That is why we should, more than ever, support this bill. It will allow couples to plan their families, which will empower them to raise children who would live productive and well-rounded lives, just as God intended us to live being His children, made out of His own image. A life with dignity is not only a choice, it is a human right. Now I want to ask the opponents of HB 5043, nasaan ang dignidad ng taong kinakailangang maghalungkat sa basurahan para lang may makain? Nasaan ang dignidad ng taong kinakailangang magnakaw at magbenta ng sariling parte ng katawan para lang mabuhay? Isipin nyo nga iyan bago nyo sabihing imoral ang Reproductive Health Bill.

Iyun lang.

No comments: