I do not agree with the pro-RH legislators saying that this newly passed RH bill is "devoid of religion." Are they not familiar with the very first commandment of God to men? What is it?
When God was finished with His task of creating Adam and Eve, what is God's first commandment? " Go out and multiply." God will not utter such a commandment if the earth does not have sufficient resources to support the mouths of 8 billion people? :-)
Seriously, for some people, population is an issue which
Besides, why are our government officials so concerned with a population going on 90 plus million? Former president Bill Clinton, in one of his classic speeches, said that the unique feature of the Philippine economy is that it is dependent on internal consumption. Hence, a 90 plus million market is a plus rather than a minus, especially since, if the market is consumerist.
The problem really is not an explosion in population but of poverty. The solution to poverty is not to discourage people from copulating and having children, no. The solution to poverty is effective management of resources. When government admits that it is finding it extremely hard to feed 90 million people, it just means that it is mismanaging the resources of this country.
There is no serious population problem in the Philippines. We have enough islands to support such a population of 90 million. What is our fundamental problem is simply effective governance. Since resources in this country are controlled and managed by a very small fraction of the population, and the status between those who have and those who haven't is extremely lopsided in favor of those who have, then, surely, we will continue to have a problem. Allocation of resources is a governance issue, not something for population control people.
Showing posts with label RH BILL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RH BILL. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
RH Bill sure to pass Congress; Senator Enrile to be ousted as Senate President?
A source says that inspite of Senator Tito Sotto's rantings, the Reproductive Health bill is sure to pass thru Congress. And this issue, says the source, will result to Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile's ouster as Senate President.
The voting will be used by a group within the Senate to justify the ouster of Enrile as Senate President due to loss of confidence.
Senators Pia Cayetano (NP), Alan Peter (NPC), Edgardo Angara (LDP), Loren Legarda (NP-NPC), Frank Drilon (LP), Kiko Pangilinan (LP), Teofisto Guingona IV (LP), Lito Lapid (Lakas), Manny Villar (NP), Antonio Trillianes IV (NP), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (PRP) and Chiz Escudero (Independent)are sure to vote for the passage of the bill.
ON the other side are Senators Gregorio Honasan (NPC), Juan Ponce-Enrile (PMP_UNA)and Tito Sotto (NPC-NP). Pundits are betting that Kiko Pimentel (PDP-Laban) will eventually go to the RH side after confirming his inclusion to the LP slate for the coming senatorial elections in 2013.
The source says, the RH voting will determine the fate of Enrile, who is being targetted for ouster by several close associates of President Aquino.
Who will benefit from Enrile's eventual ouster? The source says this is someone who is on his last term and who wants to exit the Senate in a blaze of glory.
The voting will be used by a group within the Senate to justify the ouster of Enrile as Senate President due to loss of confidence.
Senators Pia Cayetano (NP), Alan Peter (NPC), Edgardo Angara (LDP), Loren Legarda (NP-NPC), Frank Drilon (LP), Kiko Pangilinan (LP), Teofisto Guingona IV (LP), Lito Lapid (Lakas), Manny Villar (NP), Antonio Trillianes IV (NP), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (PRP) and Chiz Escudero (Independent)are sure to vote for the passage of the bill.
ON the other side are Senators Gregorio Honasan (NPC), Juan Ponce-Enrile (PMP_UNA)and Tito Sotto (NPC-NP). Pundits are betting that Kiko Pimentel (PDP-Laban) will eventually go to the RH side after confirming his inclusion to the LP slate for the coming senatorial elections in 2013.
The source says, the RH voting will determine the fate of Enrile, who is being targetted for ouster by several close associates of President Aquino.
Who will benefit from Enrile's eventual ouster? The source says this is someone who is on his last term and who wants to exit the Senate in a blaze of glory.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Are we truly ready for an RH bill?
Yesterday's episode of Ratsada sa Inquirer (aired every Saturday, 8am-10am, Radio Inquirer 990 khz) saw the likes of Beth Angsioco and Dr. Janet Miglar crossing swords with two young people from YouthPinoy. Of course, the topic is Reproductive Health bill.
Angsioco and Miglar are veteran women's rights campaigners. They are at the forefront of the struggle for the passage of a Reproductive Health bill.
The consolidated version of Lagman's and Garin's bills seek the same thing---implement a Reproductive Health policy for women and children.
Looking at the consolidated bill, the bill is an excellent document which seeks to solve the problem of unwanted pregnancies, maternal deaths and lack of access to pediatric and maternal care. The bill is pro-poor because it gives everyone universal access to these services.
The only question is---are we ready for such a bill?
Look at the landscape---analyze the situation of each Local Government Unit right now and you'll find that it still lacks the funds to actually dispense full local services. Many LGU's still lack classrooms and not only that, some even lack decent town halls and what have you.
If the bill is passed, the question lies---how will LGU's implement this, if many of them, still lack the proper facilities to even act as a fully functioning LGU?
Where will RH advocates teach RH when the LGU lack classrooms? Where will mothers go to if the LGU even lack hospitals or clinics?
How about pediatricians and ob gynes---where are they? The law mandates to increase the number of health workers per LGU---where will the DOH find them?
We have waited twenty or so years for this bill, yet, the reality is, the environment is still premature for supporting such a laudable measure.
Reason----lack of funds due to the pervasive poverty of this country.
Address the economic crisis, you address the concerns of maternal deaths and unwarranted pregnancies. Most victims of unwarranted pregnancies among teenagers belong to OFW families. Address the economic crisis, prevent parents from going abroad, and you have a very stable family with parents having time rearing their children.
Maternal deaths are mostly caused by lack of pre-natal care and of course, lack of nutrition of mothers. Address the nutrition problem, you prevent maternal deaths. Of course, it is totally different if the root cause of death is congenital.
Lastly, how many condoms will the State procure to solve the population problem? GRanting for example, that the state buy 100 million condoms, how many will actually use it?
Besides, we know what happens inside DOH and its procurement process. We all know that it is big business, therefore, corruption is expected to seep into it.
Who will benefit? Will it really be women and poor kids? Or the big condom manufacturers and their lackeys inside government?
Angsioco and Miglar are veteran women's rights campaigners. They are at the forefront of the struggle for the passage of a Reproductive Health bill.
The consolidated version of Lagman's and Garin's bills seek the same thing---implement a Reproductive Health policy for women and children.
Looking at the consolidated bill, the bill is an excellent document which seeks to solve the problem of unwanted pregnancies, maternal deaths and lack of access to pediatric and maternal care. The bill is pro-poor because it gives everyone universal access to these services.
The only question is---are we ready for such a bill?
Look at the landscape---analyze the situation of each Local Government Unit right now and you'll find that it still lacks the funds to actually dispense full local services. Many LGU's still lack classrooms and not only that, some even lack decent town halls and what have you.
If the bill is passed, the question lies---how will LGU's implement this, if many of them, still lack the proper facilities to even act as a fully functioning LGU?
Where will RH advocates teach RH when the LGU lack classrooms? Where will mothers go to if the LGU even lack hospitals or clinics?
How about pediatricians and ob gynes---where are they? The law mandates to increase the number of health workers per LGU---where will the DOH find them?
We have waited twenty or so years for this bill, yet, the reality is, the environment is still premature for supporting such a laudable measure.
Reason----lack of funds due to the pervasive poverty of this country.
Address the economic crisis, you address the concerns of maternal deaths and unwarranted pregnancies. Most victims of unwarranted pregnancies among teenagers belong to OFW families. Address the economic crisis, prevent parents from going abroad, and you have a very stable family with parents having time rearing their children.
Maternal deaths are mostly caused by lack of pre-natal care and of course, lack of nutrition of mothers. Address the nutrition problem, you prevent maternal deaths. Of course, it is totally different if the root cause of death is congenital.
Lastly, how many condoms will the State procure to solve the population problem? GRanting for example, that the state buy 100 million condoms, how many will actually use it?
Besides, we know what happens inside DOH and its procurement process. We all know that it is big business, therefore, corruption is expected to seep into it.
Who will benefit? Will it really be women and poor kids? Or the big condom manufacturers and their lackeys inside government?
Is the RH bill culturally attuned? And why Filipinos love having big families
Are Filipinos really ignorant of reproductive health that's why most of them suffer from unwanted pregnancies and the like?
Is it really the lack or inadequate access to contraceptives, particularly condoms, that attribute to our high fertility rates?
Is having a high fertility rate the direct cause of poverty?
For the first question, are majority of our population really ignorant of reproductive health? What aspect of reproductive health do our fellow Filipinos profess not to know?
Is it about the lack of money of the poor to buy condoms or contraceptives that justify Congress request for the State to allocate billions of pesos for condoms and contraceptives? If this is true, then, isn't it wrong for the State to intervene in the private lives of individuals?
I think access to safe and medically proven contraceptives is really not the issue here--the issue is its non-use.
I have a question to RH bill advocates---okey, we procured billions of pesos worth of contraceptives, especially condoms. What now? What if the couple just decides to "let it all hang out" during their sexual encounter? Are we going to require couples to use these condoms during their sexual encounter? No where in the bill does it say that, because it already infringes on an individual's privacy rights.
Educating people about reproductive health is laudable. Forcing them to do what they heard is another thing. How can we, the State, ensure that "ignorant" Pinoys would really use the condom during their sexual encounter?
In the rural backwaters of Filipino society, having huge families is the norm simply because, in an agricultural society, numbers play a very important function in farm work. The more males or females you have, the better since parents require their kids to work in the farm. Of course, we, who live in the cities frown such practices or norms and see it as another form of Juan Tamad syndrome.
Likewise, in the Filipino machismo culture, using a condom is always perceived as "non-macho".
How will we change such a mindset? Well, it would take not just an RH bill to do that, but probably an entire generation of teaching and mind-conditioning. If we probably change the economic condition in the rural areas, we will be able also to dissuade parents from siring more and more children.
Why? Because most Filipinos think of siring children is like to betting in the lotto---the more bets you buy, the higher chances of winning.
What am I saying? Even in rural areas, the prevalent thinking is, the more kids you have, the better chances of improving your economic condition because the more likely you'll have someone among your kids, becoming successful. Just one success story and it will change every thing.
How can you change that? By a mere law, which says that the better number is 2 rather than 22?
The solution really in effective family planning and population management is more of changing the attitudes and mindsets of people rather than intervening in this highly private sexual thing between couples.
Condoms are not the end all and be all of things. Condomising traditional thinking is best.
By the way, let me provide a win-win solution.
Pass the RH bill, yet erase sections 9 and 10 from it.
Pass everything, including increasing maternal care facilities but erase sections 9 and 10.
Is it really the lack or inadequate access to contraceptives, particularly condoms, that attribute to our high fertility rates?
Is having a high fertility rate the direct cause of poverty?
For the first question, are majority of our population really ignorant of reproductive health? What aspect of reproductive health do our fellow Filipinos profess not to know?
Is it about the lack of money of the poor to buy condoms or contraceptives that justify Congress request for the State to allocate billions of pesos for condoms and contraceptives? If this is true, then, isn't it wrong for the State to intervene in the private lives of individuals?
I think access to safe and medically proven contraceptives is really not the issue here--the issue is its non-use.
I have a question to RH bill advocates---okey, we procured billions of pesos worth of contraceptives, especially condoms. What now? What if the couple just decides to "let it all hang out" during their sexual encounter? Are we going to require couples to use these condoms during their sexual encounter? No where in the bill does it say that, because it already infringes on an individual's privacy rights.
Educating people about reproductive health is laudable. Forcing them to do what they heard is another thing. How can we, the State, ensure that "ignorant" Pinoys would really use the condom during their sexual encounter?
In the rural backwaters of Filipino society, having huge families is the norm simply because, in an agricultural society, numbers play a very important function in farm work. The more males or females you have, the better since parents require their kids to work in the farm. Of course, we, who live in the cities frown such practices or norms and see it as another form of Juan Tamad syndrome.
Likewise, in the Filipino machismo culture, using a condom is always perceived as "non-macho".
How will we change such a mindset? Well, it would take not just an RH bill to do that, but probably an entire generation of teaching and mind-conditioning. If we probably change the economic condition in the rural areas, we will be able also to dissuade parents from siring more and more children.
Why? Because most Filipinos think of siring children is like to betting in the lotto---the more bets you buy, the higher chances of winning.
What am I saying? Even in rural areas, the prevalent thinking is, the more kids you have, the better chances of improving your economic condition because the more likely you'll have someone among your kids, becoming successful. Just one success story and it will change every thing.
How can you change that? By a mere law, which says that the better number is 2 rather than 22?
The solution really in effective family planning and population management is more of changing the attitudes and mindsets of people rather than intervening in this highly private sexual thing between couples.
Condoms are not the end all and be all of things. Condomising traditional thinking is best.
By the way, let me provide a win-win solution.
Pass the RH bill, yet erase sections 9 and 10 from it.
Pass everything, including increasing maternal care facilities but erase sections 9 and 10.
Monday, May 9, 2011
SCRAP 2 BILLION PHP FROM RH BILL
I will support the Reproductive Health bill being peddled by Congressman Edcel Lagman and Congresswoman Garin if they will agree to scrap the two (2) billion pesos proposed fund of the bill.
That two billion pesos are intended to buy condoms and contraceptives through a bidding at the Department of Health (DOH). That will be a major source of corruption.
According to insiders, two groups, one a dummy by a former health secretary, are now preparing for the bidding of the contraceptives. They even hired a PR firm to manage the crisis.
The group wants to control the bidding and procurement of the contraceptives.
I warn the Filipino People against this bill simply on the basis that several corrupt people will rake in billions worth of profits because of this bill.
This bill will not lower our population, nor will it solve the present problem of poverty in our country, no.
Poverty is the manifestation of inadequate or mismanagement of our resources and graft and corruption. Do not blame the people if they are poor.
I admit that most provisions of the bill will benefit the women and the Filipino Family. However, what really pisses me off is the FIDUCIARY ASPECT of the bill.
This proves that lobby money from condom companies are making the rounds. This is unacceptable.
That two billion pesos are intended to buy condoms and contraceptives through a bidding at the Department of Health (DOH). That will be a major source of corruption.
According to insiders, two groups, one a dummy by a former health secretary, are now preparing for the bidding of the contraceptives. They even hired a PR firm to manage the crisis.
The group wants to control the bidding and procurement of the contraceptives.
I warn the Filipino People against this bill simply on the basis that several corrupt people will rake in billions worth of profits because of this bill.
This bill will not lower our population, nor will it solve the present problem of poverty in our country, no.
Poverty is the manifestation of inadequate or mismanagement of our resources and graft and corruption. Do not blame the people if they are poor.
I admit that most provisions of the bill will benefit the women and the Filipino Family. However, what really pisses me off is the FIDUCIARY ASPECT of the bill.
This proves that lobby money from condom companies are making the rounds. This is unacceptable.
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