I won't lie to you, I haven't read the ENTIRE bill.
But I can say that I have read more of it than many ever have.
I hate to say it, but some churches have tried to brainwash people with false facts about it (specifically in a prayer that I heard in more than just one mass, in different churches).
I never took a stand until skimmed through it.
It looked almost perfectly good to me then, and I was fully supporting it.
Then we had a Bio session which used facts from the original bill.
I saw things that I missed out on in my first read and run through, but this wasn't enough to throw off my support on it.
True, Section 21, number 2 is something I fully agree with up to now. But I guess it does make sense, even if it's a bit extreme.
Read it for yourself if you want. :))
http://jlp-law.com/blog/full-text-of-house-bill-no-5043-reproductive-health-and-population-development-act-of-2008/
Here's what I typed for my Bio reflection, which asked for our stand on the bill.
I took this to heart, and really believe in what I typed here. This stand doesn't coincide with our teacher's so hindi naman talaga pwede sumipsip, diba? Hahaha.
It's kind of long, so I understand if no one reads this. Not a lot of people care about current events nowadays eh. Hahaha.
But I can say that I have read more of it than many ever have.
I hate to say it, but some churches have tried to brainwash people with false facts about it (specifically in a prayer that I heard in more than just one mass, in different churches).
I never took a stand until skimmed through it.
It looked almost perfectly good to me then, and I was fully supporting it.
Then we had a Bio session which used facts from the original bill.
I saw things that I missed out on in my first read and run through, but this wasn't enough to throw off my support on it.
True, Section 21, number 2 is something I fully agree with up to now. But I guess it does make sense, even if it's a bit extreme.
Read it for yourself if you want. :))
http://jlp-law.com/blog/full-text-of-house-bill-no-5043-reproductive-health-and-population-development-act-of-2008/
Here's what I typed for my Bio reflection, which asked for our stand on the bill.
I took this to heart, and really believe in what I typed here. This stand doesn't coincide with our teacher's so hindi naman talaga pwede sumipsip, diba? Hahaha.
It's kind of long, so I understand if no one reads this. Not a lot of people care about current events nowadays eh. Hahaha.
-----
My stand on the Reproductive Health Bill is still one of support. To me, it remains to be a bill that wishes to uphold a healthy and happy life for all the humans which are yet to be born, and those who already are.
The main concern of many about the bill is that it legalizes abortion, which is not true. Sure, you may say that one can infer from the bill that family planning may include abortion methods but nowhere in the bill does it say that abortion will become legal. This means that the existing law that illegalizes abortion will stand, and the bill will do nothing to change that standing law. Technically, abortion will still be illegal and remain out of the mentioned family planning in the bill. Also, the mentioned family planning in the bill is not compulsory, as it still allows married couples to opt out of it and just choose to naturally plan their lives. This means that the government will merely offer the family planning service, and not require citizens to follow these plans. Natural family planning is still allowed. Secondly, most parts of the bill call for voluntary actions, only a few are actually compulsory. One of the more significant outright prohibitions which disallows a health care provider to refuse performing voluntary ligation or vasectomy on the ground of lack of spousal consent or authorization. I agree that this is one of the more extreme steps that the bill wishes to take in order to control births (which I don’t completely agree with), but I would take this precaution over the chance of an accidental, unplanned birth which will force them to resort to an illegal, back-alley abortion, abandon the baby, or use other methods of helping sustain a child under rough circumstances such as child labor and abuse. Another controversial thing about it is its encouragement of the use of contraceptives. Some think that contraceptives will be allowed only when the bill is approved, but contraceptives already are legal, and they are relatively easy to obtain from pharmacies nowadays. The bill simply encourages it, which I believe is still better than unwanted births which will lead to the aforementioned paths of a bad future for the child. Another thing is the two child policy, which is also only encouraged and not imposed. Sex education early on will increase the awareness of children about the possible issues of over-population in the Philippines. In fact, the government will have new institutions and services to further assist reproductive health and family care.
With these methods of preventing unplanned births, propagation of information through education and media, and family planning to prevent some unexpected cases wherein the parents might fail to provide for the children, I think the guarantee of a good life will be more present for children since they will have parents who prepared, planned well and ensure financial support for them. Children will have a greater chance of fully living their lives.
The bill taken at word has no real flaws for me. I believe that if this bill is implemented well, and that if it is followed as it is without any loophole exploiting, then it will turn out to benefit lives, especially for children. Is it not that children who are here now, and their parents are also considered as life too? Why don’t we assist these lives by giving them options not to end lives, but informing them of a way so that they don’t run themselves into thinking that children are just burdens? Why don’t we give them the choice to better plan their finances for their families so that they don’t have to grind themselves to the bone to just barely cover up for the entire family’s expenses? Why don’t we give them that financial guidance and family planning help, so that their children who are with them now don’t have to suffer having to work or starve themselves just so they can go to school? I believe that this is a way for us to help those in need, to help the unguided majority set their lives straight again.
I am a Catholic who also supports life, and I think times today have changed for us to not adapt. The earth still has its limited resources, limited space and I believe that this is already a way that God is telling us to show respect for every life, and that we must be responsible with the lives given to us. God gave us brains to think for ourselves, to be able to plan our future and not just recklessly proliferate. I believe that this is a way for each life here on earth to bear fruit. I believe that we shouldn’t allow lives to just wither away because of human irresponsibility. I believe that lives don’t exist to be there, they are given so that each one may enjoy the chance they get here on Earth in the best way that each one can.
.MrRobby.
Go RHB!
Go RHB!
