Entry Essay (RH Bill)

The social issue that I would like to discuss and present my stand is the reproductive health bill otherwise known as the RH bill. This social issue came to life ever since President Noynoy Aquino came into power. He himself could not choose at the start whether to support the bill or not.  This is because he and his family are very close to the church and the church clearly opposes the said bill. On the other hand, his political allies and the situation in the Philippines clearly state that the country needs this law or bill badly. President Aquino’s dilemma is similar to each Filipino. That is why there are Filipinos who oppose this bill and there are also Filipinos who support this bill whole-heartedly.

Before discussing the stand of Filipinos, including me, in reward to the RH Bill, what exactly is the RH Bill and what are its effects on each and every Filipino? RH means reproductive health. It aims to lessen maternal deaths. However, that is just one piece of the cake. When studied carefully, the bill aims to lessen maternal deaths, but in ways which are unacceptable to the church and most of the Filipino community. One reason for this is that the Philippines is a highly conservative country. Things like abortion, same-sex marriage, third gender is very unacceptable. This is when the conflict between the said bill and the church, together with most Filipinos arises. The said bill promotes the distribution of contraceptives, primarily condoms, pill, and others. This is to control the population of the Philippines. This is because according to the government, out country is populated. However, what the government does not want us to know is that there is no such thing as over population because it is the job of the government to take care and provide to each of its citizens. Yes, there are a lot of people here in the metro and it is also crowded and congested. But that is because the government foes not provide and foes not reach the people in the provinces. People from the provinces go to the urban areas in search for a better life. The RH bill also aims to lessen the babies, which are born. That is why this bill will distribute contraceptives to those who want to avail of this. Tis method if a shortcut and will involve a lot of money. A lot of money will be spending on condoms and pills. We all know that our government when it comes to money has corruption written all over it. The church opposes this method because of two reasons. One is that this is unacceptable in terms of our doctrines. This method, which is the distribution of contraceptives, will promote a sex-for-pleasure rather than sex-for-procreation. Another reason why the church opposes this bill is that because there is an alternative, a more natural and safe alternative. This alternative is safer because contraceptives are known to cause cancer, primarily to women. This method and alternative that the church recommends is natural family planning. No pill, no condoms, no other contraceptives, just a dialogue between couples in planning their future family. The government wants this bill because this is a shortcut. Yes, the RH bill is easier than natural family planning because you will just give contraceptive to the people and the problem will be solved. However sometimes, yes shortcuts are easier and more convenient but it comes with a price. Yes the RH bill may lessen maternal deaths but I the government improve its facilities and educate its people properly, I think the effect will be the same. Those maternal deaths will be lessened. Yes the RH bill will definitely control and lessen the population but is there a reason to control and lessened our population or is the government looking for an easy way out? The Filipino nation is a separated and undecided in regard to this bill and it is because not everyone is properly informed and many are misinformed. I am properly and mostly informed about this bill and that made me stand against it.

The RH bill is already a law in some countries and in other countries, similar laws are applied, and in fact, these countries are very successful. That is because when those laws are passed, those countries together with their people are ready for the said law. That is why RH bill in some countries are good for them because they are educated and they were ready for that. But in the Philippines that is clearly not the situation. If the situations are similar here in the Philippines, I will support the ill. But in the meantime, I am whole-heartedly against it.