Full text of House Bill No. 5043 (Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008)

(Knowing the details of the proposed law is important in having a healthy debate on the issue. Here’s the full text of House Bill No. 5043, which is in substitution to HB Nos. 17, 812, 2753 and 3970, introduced during the first regular session of the 14th Congress by Honorables Edcel C. Lagman, Janettte L. Garin, Narciso D. Santiago III, Mark Llandro Mendoza, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel and Elandro Jesus F. Madrona. You could also read the Facts Sheet and the Explanatory Note relating to the Reproductive Health and Population Development Act. Poll also here. See also updated bill, House Bill 4244, the updated article on RH Bill, and the open discussion, without need of registration. )

HOUSE BILL NO. 5043

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008“.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – The State upholds and promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, birth spacing and respect for life in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards.

The State shall uphold the right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reasonable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy.

This policy is anchored on the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens.

The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information thereon even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children,among other underprivileged sectors.

SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. – This Act declares the following as basic guiding principles:

a. In the promotion of reproductive health, there should be no bias for either modern or natural methods of family planning;

b. Reproductive health goes beyond a demographic target because it is principally about health and rights;

c. Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of reproductive health and population development;

d. Since manpower is the principal asset of every country, effective reproductive health care services must be given primacy to ensure the birth and care of healthy children and to promote responsible parenting;

e. The limited resources of the country cannot be suffered to, be spread so thinly to service a burgeoning multitude that makes the allocations grossly inadequate and effectively meaningless;

f. Freedom of informed choice, which is central to the exercise of any right, must be fully guaranteed by the State like the right itself;

g. While the number and spacing of children are left to the sound judgment of parents and couples based on their personal conviction and religious beliefs, such concerned parents and couples, including unmarried individuals, should be afforded free and full access to relevant, adequate and correct information on reproductive health and human sexuality and should be guided by qualified State workers and professional private practitioners;

h. Reproductive health, including the promotion of breastfeeding, must be the joint concern of the National Government and Local Government Units(LGUs);

i. Protection and promotion of gender equality, women empowerment and human rights, including reproductive health rights, are imperative;

j. Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized;

k. Active participation by and thorough consultation with concerned non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs) and communities are imperative to ensure that basic policies, plans, programs and projects address the priority needs of stakeholders;

l. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of reproductive health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents’ and children’s as well; and

m. While nothing in this Act changes the law on abortion, as abortion remains a crime and is punishable, the government shall ensure that women seeking care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

a. Responsible Parenthood – refers to the will, ability and cornmitTrient of parents to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children more particularly through family planning;

b. Family Planning – refers to a program which enables couple, and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to carry out their decisions, and to have informed choice and access to a full range of safe, legal and effective family planning methods, techniques and devices.

c. Reproductive Health -refers to the state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its funcitions and processes. This implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so, provided that these are not against the law. This further implies that women and men are afforded equal status in matters related to sexual relations and reproduction.

d. Reproductive Health Rights – refers to the rights of individuals and couples do decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children; to make other decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence; to have the information and means to carry out their decisions; and to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.

e. Gender Equality – refers to the absence of discrimination on the basis of a person’s sex, in opportunities, allocation of resources and benefits, and access to services.

f. Gender Equity – refers to fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities between women and men, and often requires. women-specific projects and programs to eliminate existing inequalities, inequities, policies and practices unfavorable too women.

g. Reproductive Health Care – refers to the availability of and access to a full range of methods, techniques, supplies and services that contribute to reproductive and sexual health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health-related problems in order to achieve enhancement of life and personal relations. The elements of reproductive health care include:

1. Maternal, infant and child health and nutrition;

2. Promotion of breastfeeding;

3. Family planning information end services;

4. Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;

5. Adolescent and youth health;

6. Prevention and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmittable infections (STIs);

7. Elimination of violence against women;

8. Education and counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health;

9. Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions;

10. Male involvement and participation in reproductive health;,

11. Prevention and treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction; and

12. Reproductive health education for the youth.

h. Reproductive Health Education – refers to the process of acquiring complete, accurate and relevant information on all matters relating to the reproductive system, its functions and processes and human sexuality; and forming attitudes and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy and gender roles. It also includes developing the necessary skills do be able to distinguish between facts and myths on sex and sexuality; and critically evaluate. and discuss the moral, religious, social and cultural dimensions of related sensitive issues such as contraception and abortion.

i. Male involvement and participation – refers to the involvement, participation, commitment and joint responsibility of men with women in all areas of sexual and reproductive health, as well as reproductive health concerns specific to men.

j. Reproductive tract infection (RTI) – refers do sexually transmitted infections, sexually transmitted diseases and other types of-infections affecting the reproductive system.

k. Basic Emergency Obstetric Care – refers to lifesaving services for maternal complication being provided by a health facility or professional which must include the following six signal functions: administration of parenteral antibiotics; administration of parrenteral oxyttocic drugs; administration of parenteral anticonvulsants for pre-eclampsia and iampsia; manual removal of placenta; and assisted vaginal delivery.

l. Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care – refers to basic emergency obstetric care plus two other signal functions: performance of caesarean section and blood transfusion.

m. Maternal Death Review – refers to a qualitative and in-depth study of the causes of maternal death with the primary purpose of preventing future deaths through changes or additions to programs, plans and policies.

n. Skilled Attendant – refers to an accredited health professional such as a licensed midwife, doctor or nurse who has adequate proficiency and the skills to manage normal (uncomplicated) pregnancies, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period, and in the identification, management and referral of complication in women and newborns.

o. Skilled Attendance – refers to childbirth managed by a skilled attendant under the enabling conditions of a functional emergencyobstetric care and referral system.

p. Development – refers to a multi-dimensional process involving major changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and national institutions as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of widespread poverty.

q. Sustainable Human Development – refers to the totality of the process of expending human choices by enabling people to enjoy long, healthy and productive lives, affording them access to resources needed for a decent standard of living and assuring continuity and acceleration of development by achieving a balance between and among a manageable population, adequate resources and a healthy environment.

r. Population Development – refers to a program that aims to: (1) help couples and parents achieve their desired family size; (2) improve reproductive health of individuals by addressing reproductive health problems; (3) contribute to decreased maternal and infant mortality rates and early child mortality; (4) reduce incidence of teenage pregnancy; and (5) enable government to achieve a balanced population distribution.

SEC. 5. The Commission on Population (POPC0NI). – Pursuant to the herein declared policy, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing and monitoring body for the comprehensive and integrated policy on reproductive health and population development. In the implementation of this policy, POPCOM, which shall be an attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) shall have the following functions:

a. To create an enabling environment for women and couples to make an informed choice regarding the family planning method that is best suited to their needs and personal convictions;

b. To integrate on a continuing basis the interrelated reproductive health and population development agenda into a national policy, taking into account regional and local concerns;

c. To provide the mechanism to ensure active and full participation of the private sector and the citizenry through their organizations in the planning and implementation of reproductive health care and population development programs and projects;

d. To ensure people’s access to medically safe, legal, quality and affordable reproductive health goods and services;

e. To facilitate the involvement and participation of non-government organizations and the private sector in reproductive health care service delivery and in the production, distribution and delivery of quality reproductive: health and family planning supplies and commodities to make them accessible and affordable to ordinary citizens;

f. To fully implement the Reproductive Health Care Program with the following components:

(1) Reproductive health education including but not limited to counseling on the full range of legal and medically-safe family planning methods including surgical methods;

(2) Maternal, pen-natal and post-natal education, care and services;

(3) Promotion of breastfeeding;

(4) Promotion of male involvement, participation and responsibility in reproductive health as well as other reproductive health concerns of men;

(5) Prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications; and

(6) Provision of information and services addressing the reproductive health needs of the poor, senior citizens, women in prostitution, differently-abled persons, and women and children in war AND crisis situations.

g. To ensure that reproductive health services are delivered with a full range of supplies, facilities and equipment and that service providers are adequately trained for reproductive health care;

h. To endeavor to furnish local Family Planning Offices with appropriate information and resources to keep the latter updated on current studies and research relating to family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition;

i. To direct all public hospitals to make available to indigent mothers who deliver their children in these government hospitals, upon the mothers request, the procedure of ligation without cost to her;

j. To recommend the enactment of legislation and adoption of executive measures that will strengthen and enhance the national policy on reproductive health and population development;

k. To ensure a massive and sustained information drive on responsible parenthood and on all methods and techniques to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies, it shall release information bulletins on the same for nationwide circulation to all government departments, agencies and instrumentalities, non-government organizations and the private sector, schools, public and private libraries, tri-media outlets, workplaces, hospitals and concerned health institutions;

l. To strengthen the capacities of health regulatory agencies to ensure safe, high-quality, accessible, and affordable reproductive health services and commodities with the concurrent strengthening and enforcement of regulatory mandates and mechanisms;

m. To take active steps to expand the coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), especially among poor and marginalized women, to include the full range of reproductive health services and supplies as health insurance benefits; and

n. To perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes of this Act.

The membership of the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM shall consist of the heads of the following AGENCIES:

1. National Economic DevelopmentAuthority (VEDA)
2. Department of Health (DOH)
3. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
4. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
5. Department of Agriculture (DA)
6. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
7. Department of Education (DepEd)
8. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
9. Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
10. University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI)
11. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAFI)
12. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPQ
13. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW)
14. National Youth Commission (NYC)

In addition to the aforementioned, members, there shall be three private sector representatives to the Board of Commissioners of POPCOM who shall come from NGOs. There shall be one (1) representative each from women, youth and health sectors who have a proven track record of involvement in the promotion of reproductive health. These representatives shall be nominated in a process determined by the above-mentioned sectors, and to be appointed by the President for a term of three (3)years.

SEC. 6. Midwives for Skilled Attendance. -Every city and municipality shall endeavor to employ adequate number of midwives or other skilled attendants to achieve a minimum ratio of one (1)for every one hundred fifty (150) deliveries per year, to be based on the average annual number of actual deliveries or live births for the past two years.

SEC. 7. Emergency Obstetric Care. – Each province. and city shall endeavor to ensure the establishment and operation of hospitals with adequate and qualified personnel that provide emergency obstetric care. For every 500,000 population, there shall be at least one (1) hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care and four (4) hospitals for basic emergency obstetric care.

SEC. 8. Maternal Death Review. – All LGUs, national and local government hospitals, and other public health units shall conduct maternal death review in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in consultation with the POPCOM.

SEC. 9. Hospital-Based Family Planning. -Tubal ligation, vasectomy, intrauterine device insertion and other family planning methods requiring hospital services shall be available in all national and local government hospitals, except: in specialty hospitals which may render such services on an optional basis. For indigent patients, such services shall be fully covered by PhilHealth insurance and/or government financial assistance.

SEC. 10. Contraceptives as Essential Medicines. – Hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other allied reproductive health products and supplies shall be considered under the category of essential medicines and supplies which shall form part of the National Drug Formulary and the same shall be included in the regular purchase of essential medicines and supplies of all national and lord hospitals and other government health units.

SEC. 11. Mobile Health Care Service. -Each Congressional District shall be provided with a van to be known as the Mobile Health Care Service (MHOS) to deliver health care goods and services to its constituents, more particularly to the poor and needy, as well as disseminate knowledge and information on reproductive health: Provided, That reproductive health education shall be conducted by competent and adequately trained persons preferably reproductive health care providers: Provided, further, That the full range of family planning methods, both natural and modern, shall be promoted.

The acquisition, operation and maintenance of the MRCS shall be funded from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of each Congressional District.

The MHCS shall be adequately equipped with a wide range of reproductive health care materials and information dissemination devices and equipment, the latter including but not limited to, a television set for audio-visual presentation.

SEC. 12. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education. – Recognizing the importance of reproductive health rights in empowering the youth and developing them into responsible adults, Reproductive Health Education in an age-appropriate manner shall be taught by adequately trained teachers starting from Grade 5 up to Fourth Year High School. In order to assure the prior training of teachers on reproductive health, the implementation of Reproductive Health Education shall commence at the start of the school year one year following the effectivity of this Act. The POPCOM, in coordination with the Department of Education, shall formulate the Reproductive Health Education curriculum, which shall be common to both public and private schools and shall include related population and development concepts in addition to the following subjects and standards:

a. Reproductive health and sexual rights;

b. Reproductive health care and services;

c. Attitudes, beliefs and values on sexual development, sexual behavior and sexual health;

d. Proscription and hazards of abortion and management of post-abortion complications;

e. Responsible parenthood.

f. Use and application of natural and modern family planning methods to promote reproductive health, achieve desired family size and prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies;

g. Abstinence before marriage;

h. Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other, STIs/STDs, prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and other gynecological disorders;

i. Responsible sexuality; and

j. Maternal, peri-natal and post-natal education, care and services.

In support of the natural, and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth, the POPCOM shall provide concerned parents with adequate and relevant scientific materials on the age-appropriate topics and manner of teaching reproductive health education to their children.

In the elementary level, reproductive health education shall focus, among others, on values formation.

Non-formal education programs shall likewise include the abovementioned reproductive Health Education.

SEC. 13. Additional Duty of Family Planning 0ffice. – Each local Family Planning Office shall furnish for free instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition to all applicants for marriage license.

SEC. 14. Certificate of Compliance. – No marriage license shall be issued by the Local Civil Registrar unless the applicants present a Certificate of Compliance issued for free by the local Family Planning Office certifying that they had duly received adequate instructions and information on family planning, responsible parenthood, breastfeeding and infant nutrition.

SEC. 15. Capability Building of Community-Based Volunteer Workers. – Community-based volunteer workers, like but not limited to, Barangay Health Workers, shall undergo additional and updated training on the delivery of reproductive health care services and shall receive not less than 10% increase in honoraria upon successful completion of training. The increase in honoraria shall be funded from the Gender and Development (GAD) budget of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

SEC. 16. Ideal Family Size. – The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.

SEC. 17. Employers’ Responsibilities. – Employers shall respect the reproductive health rights of all their workers. Women shall not be discriminated against in the matter of hiring, regularization of employment status or selection for retrenchment.

All Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) shall provide for the free delivery by the employer of reasonable quantity of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers. In establishments or enterprises where there are no CBAs or where the employees are unorganized, the employer shall have the same obligation.

SEC. 18. Support of Private and Non-government Health Care Service Providers. – Pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, private reproductive health care service providers, including but not limited to gynecologists and obstetricians, are encouraged to join their colleagues in non-government organizations in rendering such services free of charge or at reduced professional fee rates to indigent and low income patients.

SEC. 19. Multi-Media Campaign. – POPCOM shall initiate and sustain an intensified nationwide multi-media campaign to raise the level of public awareness on the urgent need to protect and promote reproductive health and rights.

SEC. 20. Reporting Requirements. – Before the end of April of each year,the DOH shall submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of this Act and shall make the necessary recommendations for executive and legislative action. The report shall be posted in the website of DOH and printed copies shall be made available to all stakeholders.

SEC. 21. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts are prohibited:

a) Any health care service provider, whether public or private, who shall:

1. Knowingly withhold information or impede the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe and effective family planning methods;

2. Refuse to perform voluntary ligation and vasectomy and other legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of spousal consent or authorization.

3. Refuse to provide reproductive health care services to an abused minor, whose abused condition is certified by the proper official or personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or to duly DSWD-certified abused pregnant minor on whose case no parental consent is necessary.

4. Fail to provide, either deliberately or through gross or inexcusable negligence, reproductive health care services as mandated under this Act, the Local Government Code of 1991, the Labor Code, and Presidential Decree 79, as amended; and

5. Refuse to extend reproductive health care services and information on account of the patient’s civil status, gender or sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, and nature of work; Provided, That all conscientious objections of health care service providers based on religious grounds shall be respected: Provided, further, That the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible: Provided, finally, That the patient is not in an emergency or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases.

b) Any public official who prohibits or restricts personally or through a subordinate the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family planning;

c) Any employer who shall fail to comply with his obligation under Section 17 of this Act or an employer who requires a female applicant or employee, as a condition for employment or continued employment, to involuntarily undergo sterilization, tubal ligation or any other form of contraceptive method;

d) Any person who shall falsify a certificate of compliance as required in Section 14 of this Act; and

e) Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.

SEC. 22. Penalties. – The proper city or municipal court shall exercise jurisdiction over violations of this Act and the accused who is found guilty shall be sentenced to an imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, secretary or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration. An offender who is a public officer or employee shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service.

Violators of this Act shall be civilly liable to the offended party in such amount at the discretion of the proper court.

SEC. 23. Appropriations. – The amounts appropriated in the current annual General Appropriations Act for reproductive health and family planning under the DOH and POPCOM together with ten percent (10%) of the Gender and Development (GAD) budgets of all government departments, agencies, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities funded in the annual General Appropriations Act in accordance with Republic Act No. 7192 (Women in Development and Nation-building Act) and Executive Order No. 273 (Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development 1995-2025) shall be allocated and utilized for the implementation of this Act. Such additional sums as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be Included in the subsequent years’ General Appropriations Acts.

SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health shall promulgate, after thorough consultation with the Commission on Population (POPCOM), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), concerned non-government organizations (NGOs) and known reproductive health advocates, the requisite implementing rules and regulations.

SEC. 25. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, Orders, issuances, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 27. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.

29 thoughts on “Full text of House Bill No. 5043 (Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008)

  1. erros

    After reading the whole text of this bill, I came to a conclusion that RH Bill is not at all anti-human life but rather a bill that will promote quality of life. It’s not about controlling our over-populated country but providing every woman and man a freedom of choice and how this choice helps them achive quality of life. I also like the fact that this bill promotes abstinence before marriage by educating our youth and subjecting partners to certification process before getting married. This bill may not be aperfect bill and I do believe that the reason why debates are going on is to add/delete items that may or may not be needed to make this bill happen. I suggest that ev everyone gets a chance to read the full text before commenting.

    Reply
  2. alberte

    I believe we have an overpopulation problem. We may have a smaller population density compared to Singapore but this is not a good measure of overpopulation. If i see a lot of filipinos going out of the country to find jobs, less food to feed people, overflow of students in classrooms, less houses to shelter people, consistent traffic & pollution problems, etc. etc., that’s overpopulation. Therefore, we need a bill and its consistent implementation to control and manage the population.

    Reply
  3. renenbantillo

    The church must read this, how come they mess with the affairs of the state so much while the state is too afraid to say a word against the church. THE FACT IS teenage pregnancy is rampant, HIV is here and there is no cure yet, our population is booming and a lot of poor families have nothing to eat. Palibhasa ang simbahan ay nakikinabang kapag maraming naghihirap, mas maraming mahirap, mas maraming magsisimba at magpapauto sa kanila, sigurado ang kita. At yung mga politician na gustong gustong marami masyado ang ating populasyon, sila yung nakikinabang sa mga Pilipinong hindi nakakapag-aral at ibinebenta ang kanilang boto.
    RH BILL must be a law or else, draft a bill that would tax the church tutal naman they do not respect the SEPARATION OF THE CHURCH AND THE STATE!

    Reply
  4. louis_bas

    Hay nako…halos walang pinagkaiba sa sitwasyon natin ngayon. We can freey get lahat ng contraceptives na gusto natin mahirap o mayaman ka. Pumunta ka sa 7-11 maraming murang condom don. Implement the law or not you can still have more than 2 kids. I go for educating people and sana better education to strengthen self control. WITHOUT SELF CONTROL YOU CAN KILL SOMEONE THE SAME GOES SA ISSUE NA TO MABUBUNTIS PA RIN ANG GF OR WIFE MO.
    What I do not want after this is that everyone will claim that this solved the problem and they will get the credit for it.

    Reply
  5. maldita0711

    I’m reading all the comments and I wanna laugh. All the anti-RH bill are pro-death. Hypocrites. You should read and understand everything about the bill and think of what comprises the majority of the philippines bago kayo mag-react, please!

    Reply
  6. kamikaze

    Family Planning is Common Sense to those who Have it. But for those who doesn’t there’s the RH BILL.

    The Church and religious groups should not stick there noses to the responsibility of the state to make a law that would help us in controlling the growing number of unwanted children, then later become unwanted people, then later become WANTED individuals with a price on their Heads.

    That was just an ice breaker of course.

    I think what the church must do is to strengthen also their promotion of sex being sacred, that premarital sex is wrong and also promote natural family planning and the idea of abstinence to their followers. Because i think that this is a sign that they are/were not successful in teaching and advocating to these Natural Family Planning and Sacred SEX thing! for all I now since kindergarten i was taught that SEX is for married people only. I think i am one of those people who has a common sense and proud of it. :)

    I think this is Not the time for the religious people to go to the streets and say that the RH bill is a thing of EVIL. you’re just causing more traffic. I think this is the time that these people go to a room and ask themselves “WHY WERE THEY NOT EFFECTIVE?” just work hand in hand with the government in these endeavor for GOD sakes i mean really for his SAKE he will not be proud to see you guys on the streets ranting about something that you have clearly failed upon…HE now gave an authority to these people in power to make some steps a LAW in these case, so that people will be aware of the responsibilities of being a parent.

    The Church was and is still an Instrument of awareness of right and wrong But so is the the Government/STATE.

    It is wrong for us to battle this out. I know and we know that the government is not perfect…but so is the Church, any kind of it. But for the several or few of us who can understand and can accept the flaws of HUMANITY, just think what other things we can do aside from shouting that the RH bill is wrong.

    To cut it Short:

    “Let the Government do it’s job, flawed or not, just also do yours (CHURCH and Religious Groups), flawed or not”.

    Reply
  7. Accountability

    Nabasa ko po yung RH Bill pati yung mga comments. May comments and reactions na on the following:
    1. God’s will
    2. Population and density
    3. Separation of church and state
    4. Poverty
    5. Re-learning values
    6. Contraceptives
    7. Sex for married people

    Sana ang proponents ng RH Bill linawin at i-itemize alin services ang free at alin naman ang may bayad at sino allowed maka-avail ng services under sa RH Bill ng libre.

    Sa RH Bill under Sec. 5, one function ng POPCOM is “To ensure people’s access to medically safe, legal, quality and affordable reproductive health goods and services”.
    Mukhang may bayad pa rin po di ba?

    Pansinin po ninyo ang Section 10. Ang contraceptives, IUD, injectables and other allied RH products and supplies magiging “essential medicines and supplies” na at bibilhin na regularly ng national and local hospitals and other govt health units. Sino gagamit sa binili ng hospitals na ito? Ibibigay ba sa tao libre or ibebenta?

    Ang contraceptives, IUD, injectables and other allied RH products and supplies ba ma-categorize na rin as “Drugs and Medicines” ng RA 9502 Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008″ which will be subject to price monitoring and regulation?

    I believe in reproductive health education and family planning and management per se. However, please give attention sa contents of each sections ng RH Bill. Doon po tayo magdebate at magdiskusyon.

    Reply
  8. tons_astigz

    @ alipin ng kahapon

    You really are ignorant about God’s will…

    i pity on you, will you please read a Bible first before
    saying anything…

    RH BILL is really against God’s will…

    this prevents life,..

    If RH BILL will be implemented most of the filipino people will live a life immorally…

    Fornication will be rampant, wickedness will be everywhere…
    we will just be like America who was before a God Fearing country but look at them now they are suffering from the curse of God, because they forsake God..,

    i fear that it will happen to us…

    Reply
  9. markus2010

    i agree with BlueHuntress and rue and 90% disagree with the RHBill, why 90% disagree – – you can’t just tell the people to stop making kids! I, personally love kids.. It’s just that if you will make one, you have to consider that you will have a 100% FULL responsibility to that. For my own opinion, RH Bill is for the word RESPONSIBILITY, but, RH Bill thinks that Filipino’s nowadays don’t have that word when it comes to family planning, well for me, some of us. But, as I said, you can’t just budge into houses telling families that they have to stop making love after 1 or 2 kids, it’s insane! Sex is not a sin, and it’s not just for fun either. Sex will become sin if your main reason is your Lust. Making love is not breaking the law, you’ll just have to consider the responsibility of the outcome.

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  10. Ferdinand Sapiandante

    Based on my own study about this pending House Bill, I am actually in favor of this bill not because I’m against pro-life movement but I think it’s necessary to add some important laws about what our country needs.

    It is important in such a way that we are sick and tired of seeing unborn children dumped in every corner of the streets, that every woman in our country needs more protection, to every child, for us to be informed, to recognize what other choices in our daily life which affect our hygiene, our health, and our needs.

    And this Bill says it all. We need to be more casual, more open to our mind.

    The House Bill No. 5043 must be passed as soon as possible. Because the longer it’s pending the more unborn children we’ll going to see, the more taking advantage to innocent women we’re going to hear.

    I have a faith in God. I am not against his will. But I am in favor of this RH Bill.
    These Bill is not about killing, not about abortion, not about prostitution but it’s about protecting, empowering women, saving innocent children, planning about future, and teaching about today’s life.

    If they will criticize my moral obligation,
    How dare these people rally up to the streets protesting: “RH bill is against God’s will” how the hell they know what God’s will is? That’s what you call “BLIND FAITH”! These people think every change is against God’s will. And these people will do everything to defend their backward beliefs and traditions. But no matter what happen to this Bill, whether it will be approve or not, I’m a Pro-Life. And I believe that This Bill is a Pro-Life.

    I hope this bill will soon become a law. To all Religious leaders please respect the separation of state and church under our Constitution.

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  11. jaredson_19

    Guys Read Carefully the full text of this Bill before you say something. For me there is no reason to be against this proposed bill co’z some of you might argue on some matters like the immorality issue etc.. On what i have understand, this bill only promotes responsible parenting and protection against illness caused by irresponsible sexual contact and not promoting immorality on what way you are thinking. Did you read any article from this Proposed Bill that it will cover unmarried couples or even young generations who makes sex for nothing? Absolutely no! God said, go forth and multiply but it doesn’t says, multiply and let them die in hunger or other causes of poverty because of irresponsible parenthood. This Bill uphold the right of the people and not forcing you to follow, besides you have a mind to think what will be the best for your family which this bill promotes. The government will give fund for the less fortunate family (which is also included in this article) but the only thing i doubt right now is, do all this funds be really given to this family or it will be another source of corruption fund?!

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  12. MRGV_15

    a strong NO to RH BILL!!!!
    population is not the problem of our country……kung merong dapat supilin it is not the population but the CORRUPTION!!!!!
    Contraceptives are just part of the business of the government

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  13. Manjoe

    The problem with us Pinoys is that we are too lazy to accept changes because of our culture. We cannot blame some who doesn’t want to have this law passed in Congress but if we are to look on the brighter side, perhaps we will truly understand the main goal of this law.

    I, as an educator have nothing against RH Bill, it even provides welfare not just to every single filipina but to the Filipino Families, that they will soon have a happy life as couples and as parents. Everyone has the right to live equally.

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