RH Bill Infomercial

We urge our legislators to pass the the Reproductive Health Bill this year. The link below shows why we need a comprehensive RH program here in the Philippines.

http://likhaancente rforwomenshealth .blogspot. com

Surveys of Manila and Parañaque on RH Bill

Surveys of Manila and Parañaque on RH bill
By Mahar Mangahas
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 03/07/2009

Filed Under: Opinion surveys, Legislation, Family planning, Abortion Last Wednesday, at “Usapang PopDev” of the Forum for Family Planning and Development, SWS reported on its February 2009 survey in Parañaque City, showing public opinion on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill as very favorable. This means it is the same as the public opinion on the RH bill in the City of Manila and the Philippines as a whole, as polled in December 2008 and September 2008 respectively.

Among the items of the three surveys were probes into agreement, disagreement, or neutrality on the four key attitudinal statements found below. After each statement are the percentages that agreed versus disagreed; balances from 100 percent pertain to those who were neutral or who did not answer.

1. “The use of condoms, IUDs and pills can also be considered as abortion.” Parañaque: 33-53; Manila: 29-56; Philippines: 33-50.

Thus, at most, one-third of respondents classify condoms etc. as forms of abortion, as claimed by many in the Catholic hierarchy. Abortion is, of course, constitutionally illegal. The surveys make it clear that most Filipinos would not bother to dispute the legal status of these contraceptives on the basis of the abortion argument.

2. “There should be a law that requires the government to distribute condoms, IUDs, and pills to people who want to avail of them.” Parañaque: 70-19; Manila: 64-22; Philippines: 68-15.

This shows an overwhelming public rejection of the Catholic hierarchy’s opposition to governmental provision of the above-mentioned contraceptives for those who want them. Of course, most people know what church officials are up to — 66 percent in Parañaque and 62 percent in Manila agree that “The church interferes in the affairs of the government, especially in the issues of reproductive health and family planning” — and yet they still maintain high trust in the Catholic church.

Fortunately for the faith in the Philippines, there is much more to being a Catholic than following every wish of one’s bishop.

It may be noted that only 15 percent of Filipinos object to having a law requiring the government to distribute condoms etc. to those who want them, even though as many as 33 percent regard such contraceptives as abortion. This means that, even among those personally opposed to condoms etc., most are open-minded enough to let others have an effective freedom of choice.

3. “If family planning would be included in their curriculum, the youth would be sexually promiscuous.” Parañaque: 25-58; Manila: 29-59; Philippines: 25-54.

4. “There should be a law that requires the government to teach family planning to the youth.” Parañaque: 85-9; Manila: 88-7; Philippines: 76-10.

The above are consistent with agreements that “Students of age 15-24 should be given adolescent health education in school” of 87 percent in Parañaque and 92 percent in Manila. They are also consistent with percentages agreeing that “Men and women 15-24 years old should be given family planning information and services” of 86 in Parañaque and 89 in Manila.

Filipinos who know of the RH bill pending in Congress are almost half in the entire nation (46 percent), and exactly half in Parañaque (49 percent) and Manila (51 percent). The bill was described in the survey as “giving the government the duty to promote responsible parenthood through giving enough information to the people and having safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services for people who want it.”

The bottom lines of the three SWS surveys are the percentages in favor of, versus opposed to, the RH bill: Parañaque: 84-9; Manila: 86-8; Philippines: 71-8.

The basic reason why opinions are overwhelmingly in favor of the RH bill is the widespread recognition that the problem of overpopulation in the Philippines is critical. Here are percentages that agree with the following statements: “Population growth increases poverty incidence” — Parañaque 71, Manila 74; “Population growth worsens environmental degradation” — Parañaque 65, Manila 69; “Population growth slows down economic growth” — Parañaque 68, Manila 70; “There is a population growth problem in the Philippines” — Parañaque 64, Manila 69; “There is a population growth problem in our city” — Parañaque 60, Manila 69; “The government of our city should have a policy on reproductive health and family planning” — Parañaque 86, Manila 88; and “The government should provide free supplies or service to the poor who wish to use any family planning method” — Parañaque 87, Manila 90.
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The first of the three surveys was done on Sept. 24-27, 2008, on a nationally-representative sample of 1,500 persons of age 18 and up (error margin of 2.5 percent). The second survey, on Dec. 27-29, 2008, had a sample of 600 persons of reproductive age (meaning, 15-54 years old for males and 15-49 years old for females) from the City of Manila. The third survey, on Feb. 14-17, 2009, had a sample of 600 persons of reproductive age in Parañaque City. The city-level error margin is 4 percent.

All samples were equally divided between males and females. The city-level samples were equally divided among congressional districts, so as to be of equal quality among them; the city-surveys found public opinion the same across districts.
Congresspersons who dispute the Social Weather Stations polls, but sincerely care about opinions in their own districts, should commission their own scientific polls at the local level. In the process, they may as well gather data on how their chances of being re-elected in 2010 might relate to their constituents’ opinions about the RH bill. How many can feel certain that, like their local bishop, they are so appreciated by the electorate that they can afford to openly oppose the RH bill?
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Contact SWS: www.sws.org.ph or mahar.mangahas@sws.org.ph

Survey: Most Pinoys Back Reproductive Health Bill

Six out of 10 Filipino adults are in favor of the controversial bill promoting family planning and the use of contraceptives despite opposition from the Church, according to a survey released yesterday.

Pulse Asia’s October 2008 Ulat ng Bayan Survey found 63 percent of Filipinos in favor of the reproductive health (RH) bill, eight percent not in favor and 29 percent ambivalent on the matter.

The Catholic Church, which counts over 80 percent of Filipinos as followers, has said the bill, which has been pending in Congress for months, is headed for defeat after a high-profile campaign by bishops.

The country’s population now stands at around 90 million, with an annual growth rate of 2.04 percent, one of the highest in Asia and above the government’s target of 1.9 percent, officials have warned.

The Pulse Asia survey also found eight in 10 Filipinos or 82 percent think government should not only educate couples regarding modern methods of family planning but also provide them with services and materials on these methods.

The same survey showed 68 percent of Filipinos are aware of the measure and only 32 percent do not know about the bill.

The non-commissioned survey, conducted from Oct. 14 to 27, used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults 18 years old and above.

“Across all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings, majorities (60 percent to 89 percent) know about the proposed legislation with the highest level of public awareness being recorded in the best-off socio-economic Class ABC,” Pulse Asia said.

In contrast, lack of awareness is most pronounced in Mindanao and Class E (38 percent and 40 percent, respectively) , it said.

Pulse Asia said majorities ranging from 56 percent in the Visayas to 79 percent in Class ABC are in favor of the bill.

Eight percent are not in favor of the bill, while 29 percent are unable to say whether or not they support the bill.

Public ambivalence on the matter is more notable in the Visayas, Mindanao, and Class E (32 percent to 35 percent) than in Class ABC and Metro Manila (13 percent to 21percent), Pulse Asia said.

Among the eight percent of Filipinos who do not favor the proposed legislation, additional survey findings showed that 47 percent of them agree with the need to promote information and access to natural and modern family planning methods.

Nearly seven in 10 Filipinos or 69 percent agree with the provision of the bill recognizing the rights of women and couples to choose the family planning method they want. About the same percentages either agree or disagree (36 percent versus 35 percent) with the inclusion of sex education in school curricula.

Funding for modern family planning

Forty-four percent believe government funds should be used to support modern family planning methods. Indecision on these issues is expressed by 20 percent to 33 percent of Filipinos, while disagreement is articulated by 10 percent to 35 percent.

Public disagreement is most manifest in relation to the proposal to include sex education in the school curricula (35 percent).

Pulse Asia said most Filipinos (82 percent) think government should teach couples about modern methods of family planning (both natural and artificial methods) – a view articulated by big to overwhelming majorities (76 percent to 91 percent) in all geographic areas and socio-economic classes.

Pulse Asia said exactly the same percentage says that it is the government’s duty to provide the people with knowledge, services, and materials on modern methods of family planning. This sentiment is expressed by 78 percent to 87 percent across all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings.

Less than one in 10 Filipinos (six percent to eight percent) disagree with either view, while indecision on these matters is expressed by 10 percent to 13 percent of Filipinos, Pulse Asia said.

The survey also revealed that about four in 10 Filipinos (44 percent) say the government should pass a law specifying the number of children couples may have.

“Thirty-six percent are not inclined to do the same,” Pulse Asia said. “Almost two in 10 (19 percent) are undecided on the matter.”

Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, big pluralities to small majorities (45 percent to 58 percent) in Metro Manila, the Visayas, Mindanao, and Classes D and E favor the idea of government passing a law on the number of children couples may have, Pulse Asia said.

In contrast, a near majority (47 percent) of those in the rest of Luzon do not think government should pass such a law while in the poorest Class E, almost the same percentages express either agreement or disagreement (42 percent versus 40 percent) with this proposal.

Religious influence

While 49 percent of Filipinos say couples should follow what their religion tells them about family planning, 44 percent are ambivalent as regards the possibility of their church or religion influencing their vote for a candidate advocating modern family planning methods.

“Big pluralities to sizeable majorities (41 percent to 68 percent) across all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings are of the view that couples should follow the dictates of their religion when it comes to the issue of family planning,” Pulse Asia said. “This sentiment is most manifest in the Visayas and least pronounced in the rest of Luzon.”

On the other hand, around the same percentages of Filipinos are either ambivalent on the matter or do not agree that couples are obliged to abide by the teachings of their religion on family planning (27 percent against 23 percent).

When it comes to the impact of their church or religion on their decision as to whether or not to vote for a candidate supporting modern family planning methods, indecision is the predominant public sentiment at the national level (44 percent) and particularly in the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and Classes D and E (42 percent to 52 percent), Pulse Asia said.

In contrast, 34 percent of Filipinos say there is a big possibility their vote would be influenced by their church or religion while 21 percent express a contrary opinion.

Pulse Asia’s survey has sampling error margins of plus or minus three percent at the 95 confidence level.

Bill advocates rejoice

A pro-reproductive health bill advocate said yesterday that the latest results of the Pulse Asia survey had only reinforced their stand that a majority of Filipinos support the bill.

“The survey had only reiterated what other surveys have said – that most of the Filipino people want the bill passed. I hope that those opposing this will listen this time,” said Beth Angsioco, secretary-general of the Reproductive Health Alliance Network (RHAN).

Angsioco also urged the Catholic hierarchy to keep an open mind on the bill.

Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, one of the main authors of House Bill 5043, or the “Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development Act of 2008,” said this only proves even more the need to pass such an important law.

“It’s another win for the RH bill. Majority of the respondents, and we presume many of them are Catholics, want the government to spend for this. Majority of them says that this is a political issue,” she told the media in a briefing

Hontiveros, along with the other RH bill authors, are likewise hopeful that Catholic bishops would finally hold a dialogue with them on the issue, and that the “heart” of the measure – providing a free and responsible choice for couples – would not be sacrificed.

Another RH bill main author, Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, highlighted the “persistent negative reports that 11 Filipino women die daily” due to pregnancy and childbirth as one of the reasons for the immediate passage of the bill.

Such a statistic, according to him, makes the Philippines among the worst performing countries in improving maternal health care.

The House leadership decided December last year to defer deliberations on the reproductive health bill until they resumed their sessions yesterday, owing to fierce debates that sometimes got too personal.

GMA firm on stand, but…

Malacañang reiterated that the position of President Arroyo remains the same on the issue of birth control but said she would take into consideration the different sentiments of all sectors.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the opinion of the people, including that of respondents in the surveys, would be taken into consideration by the President if and when the reproductive health bill is passed by Congress and reaches her office for her signature.

Mrs. Arroyo has always supported natural family planning as a means of birth control and has advocated this through the various government agencies. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Delon Porcalla, Marvin Sy


Source: Phil. Star 20 January 2009

UK official backs Reproductive Health Bill

Because the global financial crisis is making it hard for governments to improve standards of living, the importance of the Reproductive Health bill that is pending before the Philippine Congress should not be ignored, a United Kingdom official said.

According to Mark Pritchard, the chairman of the Philippine Committee in the UK Parliament, he recognizes the stand of the local Catholic Church that having a small family is not the key to fighting poverty, but that the Philippines’ rapid population growth has made it more difficult for the government to improve or even maintain the living standards of Filipinos.

The Philippines is the 12th most populous nation in the world with an estimated 88.7 million people. Its fertility rate is 3.05 percent, placing it at the upper bracket of 206 countries. There are approximately four babies born every minute and the country’s population is expected to hit an alarming 160 million by 2038.

The Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008, which Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay and five lawmakers authored, seeks “to promote respect for life, informed choice, birth spacing and responsible parenthood in accordance with internationally recognized human rights standards thru guaranteeing universal access to medically-safe, legal and quality reproductive health-care services and relevant information.”

“The bill just encourages a responsible family life through improved sex education in schools and universities and provide universal access to contraceptives,” Pritchard said.

He added hat while the church condemns abortion, the main issue here is providing free will and choice to couples.

Various Catholic Church groups, including the influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), view the Reproductive Health bill as pro-abortion and a measure that would entice unmarried couples to have sex, because of the bill’s provision that classifies hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectables and other allied reproductive health products as essential medicines. The bill would make available all these contraceptives to all national and local hospitals and other government health units.

The country’s population growth, according to Pritchard, has reduced standards of living that would make the country more reliant on food imports.

“Progress cannot be based solely on a country’s export or gross domestic product, or even decreased budget deficits. Authorities should have social and economic reforms that will empower the people with the right skill set that will eliminate them from poverty,” he pointed out.

Pritchard said that better access to quality education would put the debate on the population control bill to rest.

During an international conference on population, President Gloria Arroyo had cited pillars of population and development: parenthood, informed choice and birth spacing. But Mrs. Arroyo has yet to issue an official position on the controversial bill.


Author: Llanesca T. Panti
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Friday, December 05, 2008