Argumentative
Essay: RH Bill
Studies
show that the youth are more vulnerable and at a greater risk without proper
reproductive health services. Young pregnancies account for 30% of all daily
births in the Philippines. According to the Commission on Population, 3 out of
4 young women die everyday because of maternal complications.
Furthermore, A study by the National
Epidemiology Center in 2005 shows young pregnancies have the highest rate of
fetal deaths, especially by women under age 15. In December 2010, the
Department of Health reports that there are 489 cases of young men and women
infected with HIV. There are 6 new and unique detections of HIV everyday, 59%
of which is in 20-29 years old bracket and 28% belong to the 15-24 years age
range. In line with these problems, there is a need to make solutions. One
of great solutions would be the implementation of the Reproductive Health bill,
or the RH bill. One of the aims of the RH bill is to solve these problems by providing
access
medically safe, legal, affordable and quality natural and modern family
planning methods. The RH bill also aims to guarantee universal access to
information about birth control and maternal care. Thus, the RH Bill should be passed because it
helps the Philippines to lean towards progress by offering women healthcare,
providing sexual education to students, and helping the Filipinos to have
responsible family planning.
There
are reasons why the reproductive health bill is not yet passed; however,
majority of the people believe that the advantages brought by the
implementation of the reproductive health bill will outweigh the cons that go
with it. According to the survey hosted by Pulse Asia, 69% of the respondents
from different regions are pro RH bill and they believe that the implementation
of the bill would do more good than harm.
The
first plausible disadvantage is that the money that will be used in funding the
bill would be subject to corruption from officials. An estimate of 14 billion
pesos would be allotted to the bill if the bill would be implemented
(Department of Health, 2012). The
money involved can blind those corrupt officials; however, health and
development should be prioritized.
The bill provides healthcare services to women and the marginalized. The
Women and marginalized are prioritized by providing for their needs such as
legal, affordable and
quality reproductive health care services. After the implementation of the
bill, the State 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 (SECTION 2, RH Bill,
2008). Furthermore, women seeking
care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a
humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner. 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. (SECTION 3, RH
Bill, 2008). The health and development of the marginalized sector and the
women should be clearly prioritized over the risk of the money being stolen by
corrupted officials.
Second,
the implementation of the bill would possibly increase the number of couples
engaged in pre-marital sex. However, this would not be the case because the
bill aims to provide sexual education to address this problem. As stated in the
bill, “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.” If the youth are educated regarding the
consequences of pre-marital sex, the number involved would be significantly
lowered.
Third,
critics believe that the bill would lead to the legalization of abortion;
however, the bill aims to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies.
As stated in the bill, with “respect for life” as one of its guiding principles (sec. 2), the bill
unequivocally states that it does not seek to “change the law on abortion, as
abortion remains a crime and is punishable” (sec. 3.m). It can be argued, in
fact, that in guaranteeing information on and access to “medically-safe, legal,
affordable and quality” natural and modern family planning methods (sec. 2),
the bill seeks “to prevent unwanted, unplanned and mistimed pregnancies” (sec.
5.k). The bill addresses the issue before it occurs and not the issue
after pregnancy occurs.
Lastly,
the church disproves of the use of contraceptives. If the church is pro-life,
how can the suffering of the marginalized sector and the mass with regards to
the sexually transmitted diseases be ignored? The bill aims to address these
problems with the adequate supply of contraceptives given to the mass. It is
now time for the church to realize that the old teachings are not always
applicable to the present situations and problems.
With
the pros and cons stated, the volume of the population should realize that the
implementation of the RH bill would not just cause us present relief but also
the development of the country by offering women healthcare,
providing sexual education to students, and helping the Filipinos to have
responsible family planning. It is now time to act, let us stop being so naive
to the issues being faced by the country. The implementation of the bill is one
step further to development.
Word count: 915
Sources:
Anti-RH bill proponents are ineffective and ignored by the people; 69% support RH bill. (2010, December 1). Retrieved from http://2010presidentiables.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/new-pulse-asia-survey-on-rh-bill-shows-the-anti-rh-bill-proponents-are-ineffective-and-ignored-by-the-people
The RH
Bill as pro-life and pro-women. (2011, March 9). Retrieved from http://www.likhaan.org/content/rh-bill-pro-life-and-pro-women
Reproductive Health Bill. (2011,
February 21). Retrieved from http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/basic_15/HB04244.pdf
PB listens to pros, cons. (2011, July 19). Retrieved
from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/25789/pb-listens-to-pros-cons
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