What is your opinion about the practice of family planning? Are you for it or against it?
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I am for the practice of family planning. Family planning has been scientifically proven to be effective in combating problems associated with overpopulation. This practice allows families to achieve their desired family size through birth control methods. Through family planning, couples can prepare emotionally, physically, and financially before having a child (or prevent having one if they do not want to). Family planning reduces the risks of pregnancy-related health risks for women, especially adolescents, consequently reducing the infant mortality rate (WHO). Moreover, family planning the economy on a macro level. This creates more education and career opportunities for women, maintains a sustainable population, and increases economic development among countries. I think this is a practice that must be definitely taught to Filipino families, especially in far-flung areas where education is a scarce resource. Last 2020, the Commission on Population and Development revealed that nearly two million Filipino women, ages 15-49 years old, are expected to get pregnant, and 10 percent of these pregnancies are among girls below 20. This surge is associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. In times where information dissemination is more complicated, the Department of Health must devise a family planning campaign program in order to combat this problem.
Are you in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions? Elaborate on your answer.
- I am in favor of the provisions of the RH Law. The law is encompassing as it respects and promotes reproductive rights and welfare, particularly couples, adult individuals, women, and adolescents. It also offers the free provision of health products by appropriately trained skilled health professionals such as condoms, natural family planning charts and digital thermometers, injectables and oral contraceptive pills, etc. This is truly helpful for families who do not have the financial capacity to buy contraceptives. Considering the conservative nature of the majority of Filipinos, it is a good move that the poor can finally access information on responsible parenthood and reproductive health, services, and supplies without being shamed and regardless of their age, sex, disability, marital status, or background. However, although no person shall be denied information and access to family planning services, minors still have to secure consent from their guardian. Requiring consent demotivates minors to consult with reproductive health agencies in fear of exposing themselves to their other family members. Aside from it denies their right to privacy, their access to reproductive health is also dependent on the decision of their guardians. Most teenagers who engage in sex might not avail of these services if they are still not ready to confide with their guardians. As such, I believe that this section of the law must be revisited and reviewed to make RH law more accessible to every individual.