Laws Governing the Practice of Family Planning in the Philippines
Answer the following questions and post your answers here. Cite references if possible.
- What is your opinion about the practice of family planning? Are you for it or against it?
I am absolutely for family planning. Despite the negative reception it gathers from conservative Filipino citizens, and non-endorsement of the Catholic church, family planning should be in the Philippines should be strengthened. The Philippines has the largest annual population growth rate in Southeast Asia, with family sizes and birth rates that are among the region’s highest. Beyond the country’s economic and social capacity, the population is projected to reach 142 million by 2045 (PRB, 2022; PSA, 2015). This figure tells me that without promotion of responsible family planning, reinforcement of reproductive health services, and strategies to increase awareness among the Filipino people, the country will heavily suffer the burden of catering to millions of people without sufficient certainty of a bright future where health services, social pensions, schooling, and early retirement are at reach by all social classes, especially given the present plunge of the Philippine economy and repercussions of the pandemic.
Furthermore, in 2016, it was reported that two million pregnancies occurred to Filipino women who wanted to wait to have more children or stop having children altogether. In addition, more than two-thirds of married women use less effective, short-acting contraceptive methods, such as pills or condoms (PRB, 2022). This figure tells me that women are without accessible options. They are left between a hard place and a hard rock; left with no right to choose for themselves. Family planning, along with the pursuing reproductive health services, can give Filipino women autonomy to child-bearing and control over their bodies. By allowing them to choose the proper time, it enables them to be mentally, emotionally, financially, and economically prepared to deliver a baby into this world, secure of a home and a bright future.
Choosing family planning is not solely for the sake of curbing the Philippine population. It about women who seek independence from their biological roles, of children born into vulnerability and poverty, of struggling parent trying to meet the daily demands of their family, and of a nation lacking resources to functionally provide their constituents with their basic needs.
- Are you in favor of the Reproductive Health Law and its provisions? Elaborate your answer.
Yes, I am all for it for the Reproductive Health Law. Admittedly, when the law was being created and drafted back in 2013, I was profoundly unaware and uninformed of what this law proposes. All I can witness was how it was widely talked about, controversially at that. Being a Roman Catholic myself, every time I enter our place of worship, all I can see are violet streams with a message of ‘NO TO RH BILL.’ I was confused of why the church has any relations to this law. I didn’t do any research about it, for that time, it wasn’t an area of interest or concern to me. Asking my parents did enlighten me a bit but most of it remained muddled. Ashamedly, I left it at that.
It wasn’t until the recent years, in 2016, where my science teacher opened the matter of the Reproductive Health Law during a class discussion did it come to mind again. I realized that I had minimal knowledge about the it and that didn’t sit right with me. So, this time, I researched for myself and sought answers for questions that have been bugging me. Then, I was able to see the law clearly for what it was and was able to morally discern what my stand is regarding this matter. From then and until now, I affirm my support of the Reproductive Health Law.
Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, also known as the Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, designated as Republic Act No. 10354, is a Philippine law that provisions, mandates, and advocates universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care in the Philippines. It focuses on requiring and demanding the government to mee the unmet need for voluntary family planning and resources, and for all public institutions to educate age-appropriate sexuality education and reproductive health which includes but not limited to family planning, use and different forms of contraception and fertility control, and maternal health (‘Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012’, 2022).
This definition of the law signifies that all Filipino people, irrespective of gender or age, should have access, knowledge, and rights to services and education regarding reproductive health that is encompassed by the law. More than anything, it also emphasizes empowerment and autonomy of women towards their health, body, and choices related to childbearing. The RH Law is regarded by advocates of women’s rights as a ‘breakthrough for women’s health and right.’ It reduces the rate of maternal deaths and occurrence of unplanned pregnancies and enables women to choose and prioritize for herself and her health, through better income, health options, educational attainment, and participation in society (KFF, 2013).
Another provision of the RH Law is the strengthening and implementation of family planning and use of contraception which I advocate and stand for. Family planning is important not only for the women but also for the whole family. It is an investment towards women’s rights and in the life trajectories of young people (KFF, 2013). Moreover, it considers the desire of people to engage in sexual activities without being scared of consequences and most of all protects the right of women to choose the time or period of their life where they are ready for something as life-changing as pregnancy and house-making.
The Reproductive Health Law is here to stay. The next great challenge is to make it available to all, for the sake of equity, health, rights and empowerment.
References
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). (2015, December 29). Ten Regions Expected to Grow Faster Than the National Average. PSA. https://psa.gov.ph/content/ten-regions-expected-grow-faster-national-average
PRB. (2022). Addressing Misconceptions About Family Planning in the Philippines to Drive Change. PRB. https://www.prb.org/resources/addressing-misconceptions-about-family-planning-in-the-philippines-to-drive-change/
Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012. (2022, March 17). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsible_Parenthood_and_Reproductive_Health_Act_of_2012
KFF. (2013, January 24). Philippines Law On Family Planning Will Help Country Achieve Universal Access To Reproductive Health. https://www.kff.org/news-summary/philippines-law-on-family-planning-will-help-country-achieve-universal-access-to-reproductive-health/