Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill): Are You Pro-life or Pro-choice?

The Reproductive Health (RH) Bill is now a very touchy and controversial issue in the Philippines where majority of the population are Catholics. I've read the full text of the RH Bill and a number of strongly opinionated blogs as well as emotional and some really harsh comments, both from supporters and those opposing the Bill.

At a quick glance, it seems to boil down to MORALITY which for me is SUBJECTIVE depending on one's religion, culture, customs, traditions, social status, education, environment and other factors.

I was raised and educated as a Catholic but it would be hypocritical for anyone to claim that his or her morals are strictly adherent to the teachings and not at all impugnable. And while it is widely believed by Christians that the Scripture where the doctrines and teachings were based upon is infallible, for me, this belief does not necessarily extend to Church authorities' inability to err or sin.

The RH Bill on the other hand talks about free choice given to people on the use of reproductive health services and products, enabling the people, especially the poor to have the number of children they want and can care for.

My questions:

Aren't these services and products already openly sold in the market? In fact, condoms of different colors, sizes and flavors are displayed on counter tops of drugstore cashiers along with chewing gums and candies! It's even advertised on all sorts of media, be it print, radio, TV and the internet! Definitely no one needs a prescription to purchase condoms, right?

Aren't family planning seminars free and accessible, as well as information on family planning devices such as birth control pills, IUDs (Intrauterine Device) and even the not-so-popular vasectomy in numerous public health centers and lying-in clinics?

But all of the above did not stop the population growth nor the spread of STDs and AIDS, did it? Nor did it mitigate unwanted pregnancies and abortion or improve the quality of life of the poor.

House Bills 101 and 513 define the term "reproductive health care" as follows:

Reproductive Health Care - refers to the state of complete 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 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 attain equal relationships in matters related to sexual relations and reproduction. Source: Wikipedia 

A freedom to choose to engage in satisfying and safe sex life.... Well, go ahead! No one can prevent anyone from having a great and satisfying sex life that is also safe at the same time. In fact, it's anybody's call to indulge in gratifying sex without worrying about the natural outcome which is pregnancy or even contracting a deadly disease! Aren't we masters of our own body? Do we not have full control over it?

So enjoy and pay for it!

But don't ram the diligent tax payers' throats and choke them with a Bill that if passed into law, would have them shoulder the FUNDING of widespread distribution of contraceptives and other family planning devices such us IUDs just so everyone, especially the poor can have a satisfying and safe sex life! That's utterly crap! What difference would it make if the same reproductive health products and services available in the market are subsidized and shouldered by tax payers? Can the RH Bill's proponents guarantee that its passing into law and implementation will result in controlling the population growth to alleviate poverty? Will it deter the spread of STDs, HIV and AIDS? Will it promote responsible parenthood? If it does not guarantee any of these, then it defeats its proclaimed purpose! So, why still push for it?

Clearly, it is because legalizing it would allow a budget allocation for the mandatory administration, information dissemination and massive distribution of these "reproductive health services and contraceptives" thereby tremendously increasing its demand. All in the best interest of the manufacturers, capitalists and of course the "middlemen/women" who are pushing their hardest as if in childbirth for the RH Bill's enactment.

I would prefer my taxes to be used for education where I firmly believe we have a greater chance of improving the quality of life of the majority. The government can't even allocate enough budget to hire new teachers to reach the poorest rural areas where illiteracy rate is very high. Now they'd want to send health workers to these same areas not to address illiteracy but teach young indigenous mothers about the ideal number of children and ask them all to be ligated for FREE. Is this really free choice or coercion? I honestly can not believe that these poor, uneducated, indigent women are prepared to make intelligent decisions and understand the risks involved in availing the FREE reproductive health services and contraceptives offered to them no matter how expertly the health workers explain it to them! Who are you kidding?

MORALITY is SUBJECTIVE while FAITH is DEFINITE. However, the true issue on the RH Bill 

is not about morality or faith but MOTIVE. 

A MOTIVE is of course always driven by some gain... 

Most of the time capitalizing on someone else's pain!

Here's the basic content of the Consolidated Reproductive Health Bill which is divided into the following sections. (in Hot Pink Bold Fonts are HOT issues.)

1.     Title
2.     Declaration of Policy
3.     Guiding Principles
4.     Definition of Terms
5.     Midwives for Skilled Attendance
6.     Emergency Obstetric Care
7.     Access to Family Planning
8.     Maternal and Newborn Health Care in Crisis Situations
9.     Maternal Death Review 
10.     Family Planning Supplies as Essential Medicines
11.     Procurement and Distribution of Family Planning Supplies
12.     Integration of Family Planning and Responsible Parenthood Component in Anti-Poverty Programs
13.     Roles of Local Government in Family Planning Programs
14.     Benefits for Serious and Life-Threatening Reproductive Health Conditions
15.     Mobile Health Care Service
16.     Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health and Sexuality   Education
17.     Additional Duty of the Local Population Officer
18.     Certificate of Compliance
19.     Capability Building of Barangay Health Workers
20.     Ideal Family Size
21.     Employers’ Responsibilities
22.     Pro Bono Services for Indigent Women
23.     Sexual And Reproductive Health Programs For Persons With Disabilities (PWDs)
24.     Right to Reproductive Health Care Information
25.     Implementing Mechanisms
26.     Reporting Requirements
27.     Congressional Oversight Committee
28.     Prohibited Acts
29.     Penalties
30.     Appropriations
31.     Implementing Rules and Regulations
32.     Separability Clause
33.     Repealing Clause
34.     Effectivity

Source: Wikipedia