Position Paper on Reproductive Health Bill

I. INTRODUCTION

As defined by the World Health Organization, RH bill means "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 functions and processes." This implies that people have the capability to safely reproduce, provided within the context of the law. In the Philippines, RH bill aims to promise complete access to modern methods and information which openly engage on birth control and maternal care.

II. COUNTER ARGUMENTS

Proponents Argument:

1. Overpopulation in the Philippines intensified the country's poverty rate thus causing the government to have difficulties in dealing the concern.

2. Experimental studies showed that poverty incidence is top among huge families and smaller-sized household has a larger opportunity to invest on better education, health, nutrition and eventually reduce poverty and hunger within the family level.

3. World Health Organization listed the use of contraception as one of the essential medicines to lower abortion rate according to Guttmacher Institute.

4. A 2008 SWS survey resulted that 71% of the respondents are approving of the bill as it proposed to educate people to be more responsive in choosing a smaller-sized family giving them free will to select a line-up of family planning methods set forth by reasoned population policy.

Opponents Argument:

1. The bill misleads people casing the point that there has no connection between population growth and poverty based on the study of Nobel-prize winner Simon Kuznets.

2. The use of contraceptives present serious health risk and is deemed an immoral practice to control life.

3. The bill eliminates limited government funds set forth various high priority medical and food needs rather shifted to fund devices considered harmful and deadly to human life.

4. Local 2009 survey showed that 92% cast