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8 Reasons We Should Not Pass the RH Bill | from World Youth Alliance 1.

The Reproductive Health Bill undermines the human rights it seeks to advance. The government cannot, on the one hand, guarantee the universal basic human right to reproductive health with its concomitant right to make free and informed decisions, and on the other hand advocate a policy that tells parentsespecially womenwhat their choices should be. Such an approach is an unjustifiable affront to the dignity and capacity of the poor. The bill also claims to give equal importance to natural and artificial methods of family planning. This claim does not hold. While mention is given to natural methods of family planning, no funding is provided for the promotion of these methods in the budgetary provisions of the bill. Natural methods rely on investments in the education of women and increased knowledge, in order to enable women to manage their health, and make informed decisions. Budgetary allocations must be inserted to the bill to provide funding for the training of knowledge-based reproductive health care providers, and the promotion of necessary information to women in order to enable informed choice. 2. Maternal Health requires access to healthcare facilities and reproductive health education, not contraceptives. Improved access to basic health care, nutrition, medicines and technology are the additional means by which maternal mortality and morbidity can be reduced and eliminated. The mandate of the RH bill to increase obstetric care and skilled birth attendants, is not emphasized in this bill. The causes of maternal mortality and morbidity are limited: hemorrhage, infection, obstructed labor and hypertensive disorders. These causes can be significantly addressed through investment in skilled birth attendants, and provision of health education for women and families. There is probably no more important step the Philippines could take toward improving reproductive health. The UNFPA states that three-fourths () of all maternal deaths could be averted by the presence of skilled birth attendants. By contrast, family planning is likely to reduce maternal deaths only by one-third. The RH bills current provisions for maternal care are important, but underdeveloped in comparison with other parts of the bill. 3. It does not protect the rights of conscience of those that will be responsible for implementing new measure. All reproductive health care workers should provide information and educate and render medical services consistent with the new provisions in this bill. This bill does not include measures that protect conscientious objections for healthcare workers or institutions that refuse to provide services due to religious or cultural beliefs and practices. In addition, through state-imposed reproductive health curriculum in schools, this bill undermines the rights of parents to be the primary educators of their children. Likewise, denying couples the right to marry without first receiving adequate instruction on family planning and responsible parenthood violates their individual freedom conscience and discriminates against those who would refuse such training in religious or cultural grounds. 4. It violates freedom of expression.

The bills criminalization of speech that maliciously engages in disinformation (an undefined category) about the substance or even potential motives behind the RH bill violates the constitutional right to free speech and expression. The provision should be eliminated in its entirety. 5. Increase in Contraceptive use leads to higher abortion rate Dr. Malcolm Potts, abortion and contraceptive advocate and past medical director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said that As people turn to contraception, there will be a rise, not a fall, in the abortion rate. Dr. Judith Bury of the Brook Advisory Center chimed in a few years later that There is overwhelming evidence that, contrary to what you might expect, the provision of contraception leads to an increase in the abortion rate. The reason for this is twofold: First, contraceptives fail a certain percentage of the time. A 5% failure rate means that 5% of the couples using a certain method will be pregnant at the end of the year. Second, the use of contraceptives gives a false sense of security that leads to risky sexual behavior. The result is more unplanned pregnancies and hence more abortions. http://www.pop.org/content/presidents-page-contraception-reduces-1874 6. It fails to reaffirm the Philippiness protection of the unborn. Filipino law has long defended the right to life of all persons, whether born or unborn. The Reproductive Health Bill makes only an ambiguous statement of principle (While nothing in this Act changes the law against abortion) as part of a care provision for post-abortion complications. Additionally, the bills guarantee of reproductive health care services, as opposed to the defined term reproductive health care, as well as a universal basic human right to reproductive health according to international legal custom, could eventually open the door to undermining Philippines national law protecting unborn persons. 7. Recent reports emphasize the problems with widely used family planning programs that fail to meet the needs of the poorest populations. Strategies that seek to increase contraceptive use rapidly by improving services and access in convenient or well-resourced areas are likely to increase observed inequities in contraceptive use. Maternal mortality and general reproductive health problems also remain high because the unique issues facing poor populations are not addressed. (Nuriye Ortayli and Shawn Malarcher, Equity Analysis: Identifying Who Benefits from Family Planning Programs.) In this way family planning programs, by focusing on contraceptive use rather than an integrated, comprehensive approach to population development, fail to address the needs of the poor. 8. There has never been a direct link connecting high population with high poverty rates. Correlation is not causation. It is short-sighted to think of declining population growth as a goal in of itself. Population control, as an economic policy, has proven to be unsustainable. Across Europe and Asia, countries that saw steep declines in fertility in the past generation are now bracing themselves for the future consequences of an aging population, when a large number of elderly can no longer be supported by the smaller and younger working class. During the 1970s and 1980s, Singapore instituted an aggressive two-child policy, which led to a situation of labor shortages and

the difficulty of supporting an aging population. In an effort to recover, Singapore now pursues a pro-fertility policy. In the case of Hong Kong, the countrys dense population has had no debilitating effects on its economic development. Hong Kong has experienced a great economic boom and high levels of economic prosperity largely due to a sound banking system, no public debt, a strong legal system, and a rigorously enforced anti-corruption regime. This case provides a clear example that economic development is not synonymous with small population size, and that a large population is not only sustainable but an asset to development URL: http://cbcpforlife.com/?p=202 THE word immoral is used to describe a behavior not in conformity with accepted standards or principles; wicked; and lewd. This is how the Catholic Church see the controversial "Reproductive Health and Population Development Bill" or RH Bill that is still being debated at the Lower House of Representatives. House Bill 5043 or the Reproductive Health Bill and Population Development Act of 2008 (RH Bill) seeks government funding for population management programs that would provide reproductive health education and give access to both natural and artificial family planning methods to all Filipinos. Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Ladman, primary author of the bill, earlier said the main focus of the RH bill is "the exercise of freedom of informed choice by women and couples on what method of family planning they want to adopt". In short, its main goal to reduce the population by reducing pregnancies. Much has been argued about by the multi-faceted issue of reproductive health -- mostly religious and political in nature. Nonetheless, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has taken a firm stand on the reproductive health bill because its provisions are anti-family and antilife. Monsignor Paul Cuizon, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Davao and parish priest of Sta. Ana Church, said the anti-RH Bill stand is not just of the CBCP's but of the universal Catholic Church. "It has been the constant teaching of the Church. It is contained in the Encyclical letter of the late Pope Paul VI called Humanae Vitae. It's not just about the union of the husband and wife. The union sould always be open to life," Monsignor Cuizon said referring to Humanae Vitae (meaning "of human life") which describes a morally licit sexual act as one that involves both procreative and uniting elements. "Artificial contraception eliminates the possibility of a pro-creative element," Mosignor Cuizon. "Kung hindi kasi open to life, the sexual intercourse would just be like for the human satisfaction and pleasure. When you engage in the sexual act, that means you are ready to take the responsibility. The natural law is pro creation." Most feminist groups argue that reproductive choice is essential to authentic women's liberation and that this choice includes safe, available, affordable contraception. Cuizon, however, said the use of contraception is already cutting off the union and the pro-creation.

Overpopulation Pro RH-Bill groups, Monsignor Cuizon said, have always argued on the issue of poverty. "The overpopulation theory is a myth. There are several studies showing the issue isn't overpopulation but the lack in distribution of wealth. If you put all people in the state of Alaska, they will all be accommodated in that part of the globe. Siguro there's just a concentration of people in the city. Take a plane ride and look down, you will see a lot of space," he added. For Cuizon, it is a flawed way of thinking that blames hunger and poverty in a country on the number of people it has. It has the simplistic notion that there is hunger because there are too many people to feed. "Prove it scientifically, that's my challenge. Why impose on us when that's not what the whole picture is all about. If you manage the population well and plan out give them work and education, then we shall expect economic growth. I hope the pro groups would study very well not just mouthing about it," he said. Corruption "Actually, overpopulation is wrongly connected with poverty. The admitted cause is corruption. There are others things that should be looked upon Good management of a population can be an asset instead of being a liability." He said poor families would rather wish that they be given proper education instead of contraceptives. Amidst the snowballing opposition to the RH Bill, Cuizon said it is not productive to face them head on. He said he'd go for the formation approach. "The Church will always continue to inform the Faithful about the dangerous effects of the RH Bill. We will continue to be guardians of morality through preaching." Preaching, he said, is not only in the pulpit but also through mass media. It's a mandate that Jesus Christ gave to the Church. It's the role of the Church to clarify moral issues to its flock. "Kung susunod sila or hindi, its their prerogative. Nontheless, it will always be our task to teach prophetic roles. Let there be no conditions, there, there are many means." A volunteer group -- Family and Life Apostolate -- in every parish have been helping promote value of life and family. He leaves everything to the decision of the lawmakers though. "It's their turf. I honor invitations to City Council sessions and find it as a good venue to impart the Church's stand. I will not be there to ostracize them." The kind of aggressiveness they undertake against RH Bill is just like how a mother protects and cares for her children. "Life has to be appreciated and valued as something sacred," he added, On ex-communication

Monsignor Cuizon clarified that the Davao Archdiocese was just misquoted in earlier reports about its plan to ex-communicate 14 councilors supportive of the RH Bill. "I was misquoted perhaps. Yun kasing ex-communication as a canonical penalty could not be imposed if it is not according to Vatican law. And there's only a list of sins with the sanction of excommunication and supporting the RH Bill is not in the list," he said. There are three grave acts that merit ex-communication along the intellectual level: heresy, apostasy, and schism. Heresy is teachings contrary to the Church; Apostasy is a sin against religion against God; while schism is breaking away from Church authority. "RH bill may not fall under heresy but it can be a ground for ex-communication if the actions are upfront to the Church's teachings." HIV/Aids For the Catholic Church there is no other compromise for the natural method of contraception therefore, no culture of promiscuity. The RH Bill should neither be used to justify the use of condoms. Neither will the use of condoms help reduce the high incidence of HIV/Aids cases, Cuizon said. "If are an HIV positive, then it means you can only abstain from having sex. Because you know you are sick there should be value and sacrifice," he added. People's voice When the Church speaks on RH BIll, it is from a standpoint of giving voice to those who cannot speak for their opinions. "Ano mangyayari sa city kung walang voice na mag stand out to speak. The Church will always intervene. But how to effectively put these people to our cause is only through the power of the truth, he added. "The truth per se is powerful. Even in politics, the church is mandated to intervene if it morality is at stake." With arguments backed with evidences, the pros and the antis have their causes to further and therefore misuse of religious authority, delaying tactics, name-calling, and intensified misinformation are not needed but definitely should leave a lot of room for further examination and criticisms. So while the fate of the controversial RH Bill is on the hand of our politicians and lawmakers, let us examine also the pit and the pendulum surrounding the issue, and how to properly address this in a language that everyone can understand. URL: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/weekend/church-rh-bill

CBCP: RH bill 'gift-wrapped' for greater crimes vs women December 15, 2012 3:35pm

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Philippine Catholic bishops on Saturday accused the government of "gift-wrapping" the controversial Reproductive Health bill to make it look like a gift for maternal health care. In a pastoral statement, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines reiterated its stand that contraception threatens to harm the nation and corrupt the soul. "The RH Bill is being gift wrapped to look like a gift for maternal health care. It is not so. It will lead to greater crimes against women," CBCP vice president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a statement posted on the CBCP news site Saturday, hours before the start of the traditional Simbang Gabi. Also, the CBCP urged the Filipino people to pray for some 64 members of the House of Representatives to vote against the RH Bill on third reading this Monday. Villegas signed the pastoral statement on behalf of CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, who is abroad. Palace: avoid name-calling In an interview on state-run dzRB radio, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Saturday asked the anti-RH Bill groups, including the Catholic Church, to stop what it called namecalling and misleading arguments on the issue. There should be no name calling. We should confine ourselves to issue at hand. It does not help to debate on personalities and personal issues, she said. Also, She appealed to Catholic Church officials to respect the opinion of those supporting the RH bill, in the same way the Palace has respected their individual opinions. Whether it is a contrary opinion, we respect the individual opinions of members of the clergy when it comes to the issue or responsible parenthood. In the same vein we hope that these members will

likewise respect the opinion and position of those who believe in Responsible Parenthood bill, she said. The House of Representatives passed the bill on second reading early last Thursday with a narrow margin of 113 to 104. The controversial measure seeks to improve parenting habits and allocate government resources to ensure public access to both natural and artificial birth control methods. The Catholic Church has been vocal in opposing as it favors only natural family planning method. False promises In the same CBCP article, Villegas also said the RH bill promises the poor a better life, but "it will not be so." Instead, he said the poor can rise from their misery through more accessible education, better hospitals and lesser government corruption. "Money for contraceptives can be better used for education and authentic health care," he added. Villegas also said that with the RH bill, the youth may be "made to believe that sex before marriage is acceptable provided you know how to avoid pregnancy." "Is this moral? Those who corrupt the minds of children will invoke divine wrath on themselves," he said. Moral fiber at risk Villegas said the RH Bill, if passed into law in its present form, will put the moral fiber of the nation at risk. "As we your bishops have said in the past, a contraceptive mentality is the mother of an abortion mentality. The wide and free accessibility of contraceptives, even to the youth, will result in the destruction of family life and in greater violence against women," he said. Plea to congressmen The CBCP congratulated the one 104 members of the House of Representatives who voted "No" to the RH Bill last Thursday. "You have voted courageously, despite all pressures, to stand up for what is right and true. The Church will remember you as the heroes of our nation, those who have said no to corruption and who care for the true welfare of the people, especially the poor. May you continue to be steadfast and not waiver in your stand against moral corruption," it said. But it pleaded with the 64 congressmen who have not voted, "to be enlightened and stand up for the Truth." "The truth is that to be pro-child, pro-mother and pro-poor, we must resist all threats against them. This is justice. Stand up for it; defend it; do not be swayed by worldly pressures, and be the

champion of the people who voted for you. God knows and sees what you are doing," the statement said. The CBCP also asked the Filipino Catholic faithful to "share in praying that our congressmen and women will be faithful to their call to serve the true interests of the Filipino people." "This means upholding life, saying no to contraception which is corruption, and being faithful to the Christ Child who was pro-woman, pro-child and pro-poor," it said. LBG, GMA News URL: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/286556/news/nation/cbcp-rh-bill-gift-wrappedfor-greater-crimes-vs-women REITERATING CBCP POSITION ON FAMILY REITERATING CBCP POSITION ON FAMILY Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo September 16, 2009 With the introduction of the Reproductive Health Bill 5043, a.k.a. Reproductive Health Bill, in Congress, truth and morality, the value and dignity of life, family and marriage are sadly made to depend on human laws. That is what is implied in the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill presently under discussion in Congress. It appears that Congress even plans to shorten the discussion in order to have the R.H. Bill passed before the end of October. We hope that the normal process of discussion and interpellation be observed, that the Congressmen who have signified to interpellate on the R.H. Bill be honored and given the opportunity to interpellate. To shorten the period of interpellation would give the impression that the passage of RH Bill is lutong makaw, not judiciously and sufficiently discussed. As Catholics and Christians we are against the passage of the RH Bill 5043 of Congress for reasons we have already enunciated and I now summarize: The Bill dilutes and negates Section III (1) Article XV of the Constitution which provides The State shall defend the right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious conviction and the demands of responsible parenthood. The Bill seeks to legalize surgical procedures that the Catholic Church has denounced as immoral, except for serious health reasons: tubal ligation, vasectomy and abortion. The Bill requires mandatory reproductive health education from Grade V to Fourth Year High School without consideration of their sensitivity and moral innocence. The moral law and the Constitution recognize the right of parents to be the primary educators of their children. The Bill recommends having two children only per family as the supposedly ideal family size. There is no moral or scientific basis for this recommendation. It puts the State above the family. The natural right of couples to have as many or as few children as possible, pursuant to their understanding of responsible parenthood, is in our view already protected by Section 12, Art. 2 of the Constitution, which recognizes the sanctity of family life and protects the life of the mother and of the unborn. The Bill states that those who maliciously engage in disinformation about the intent of provisions of the bill shall be punished with imprisonment and/or fine of P10,000 to P50,000. This

includes those who will teach contrary to the bill (after it is passed) and speak about its immoral provisions. Such provision is a clear violation of the freedom of speech and of the right to religious conviction. Only totalitarian states have such policies. We thus reiterate our categorical and unequivocal opposition to any attempt at controlling the exercise of the God-given rights of human persons to enter into married life, procreate and raise families according to the provisions of the Constitution and their religious convictions. We appreciate and are grateful to the members of the Legislature who seek to understand the will of the Supreme Lawgiver whose laws are beyond our limited human competence to repeal or amend. We recognize and likewise thank the individuals and groups who support our pro-life, prowomen, pro-marriage and pro-family advocacy. We raise in prayer all their efforts for continued guidance and strength from the Lord and Giver of Life. For the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines: +ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D. URL: http://cbcponline.net/v2/?p=574 7 Point Manifesto Families Against RH Bill

MANIFESTO FAMILIES AGAINST THE RH BILL Whereas, there is a proposed RH Bill being deliberated in Congress that threatens the very foundations of the Filipino family as an institution. Whereas, we the undersigned families as the most affected stakeholders must take an active part in discussions relating to the welfare of the family. Whereas, we as citizens of the Republic are opposed to the passage of the proposed bill known as The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011 for the following reasons: 1. The RH Bill is anti Family. The contraceptive lifestyle destroys the very foundations family. Contraceptives bring about the downgrading of marriage, disrespect for ones spouse, usually the wife; leads to more extramarital sex, more fatherless children and single mothers as proven by Nobel prize winner, George Akerlof. 2. Parents are the primary educators of their children. As parents, we do not agree that children from age 10 to 17 should be taught sexual rights and the means to have a satisfying and safe sex life as part of their school curriculum (Sec. 16, Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health

and Sexuality Education). We also oppose other provisions such as losing our parental authority over a minor child who was raped and found pregnant (Section 28a. No. 2). 3. As citizens, we do not want to be subjected to imprisonment and/or pay a fine, for expressing an opinion against any provision of the proposed RH law, if such expression of opinion is interpreted as constituting malicious disinformation (Sec. 28, Prohibited Acts, Par. e and Sec. 29, Penalties). 4. As spouses, we do not agree that our husband or wife can undergo a ligation or vasectomy without our consent or knowledge. (Sec. 28, Prohibited Acts). 5. As taxpayers, we are against the misuse of our money that the proposed RH Bill will do. If Filipino families are too poor to afford artificial contraceptives, they are also too poor to afford essential medicines that can cure real killer diseases. HB 4244 places an overwhelming emphasis on contraception at the expense of all other values, including medical care for the sick and the dying. Top 10 causes of Morbidity/Death in the Philippines lists Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Influenza and Hypertension as the highest ranking causes of death among women. There is a distortion of human values if we prioritize the prevention of procreation over saving lives. 6. The RH Bill lies about science facts on the use of artificial contraceptives. The pill and the IUD kill babies: human life begins at fertilization, when the male sperm penetrates the female egg. The pill has a secondary post-fertilization effect, according to the American Medical Association. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has declared that the intrauterine device brings about destruction of the early embryo. The pill causes cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2007 reported that the pill causes cancer, giving it the HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARCINOGENICITY, THE SAME AS CIGARETTES AND ASBESTOS. It also causes stroke, and significantly increases the risk of heart attacks. The condom has been blamed for the increase in the incidence of HIV/AIDS in countries that resorted to it, notably Africa and Thailand. 7. The RH Bill is based on wrong economics. There is no clear correlation between population growth and economic development, according to Simon Kuznets, Nobel Prize winner in the science of economics. Population control is not an ingredient for high economic growth, as found by the 2008 Commission on Growth and Development headed by Nobel Prize winner Michael Spence. The growth factors are: governance, openness to knowledge, stable finances, market allocation, investment and savings. The RH Bill is based on flawed data on population growth rates and fertility levels. In 1960, the average number of children per Filipina in her lifetime was seven. By 1980 it was five. By 2000 it was 3.5. In 2010 the NSO projected in at 3.0 and about 2.65 by 2020 near the replacement level of 2.25. The RH Bill ignores the negative impact on the economy and society of an ageing population PHs Population Growth Rate has declined since the Year 2000 Census of 2.36%. UN states it at 1.8%, whilst the NCSO reports 1.94% for 2005-2010. RPs without the benefit of governmentfunded contraceptives envisioned by the RH Bill.

Therefore based on the aforementioned facts, we, concerned Filipino Families, w enjoin the national government, particularly our legislators, to SCRAP THE RH BILL pending in the Congress. Furthermore, we enjoin our fellow countrymen to know the facts about the arguments in this national issue seriously affecting families, and to make a stand and protect the right of the Filipino families. URL: http://cbcpforlife.com/?p=2271 Senate votes 13-8 to pass RH Bill December 17, 2012 11:33 pm By Jelly Musico MANILA, Dec. 17 The Senate approved Monday night on third and final reading the controversial Reproductive Health Bill, ending months of heated debates on the floor.

Voting 13-8 with no abstention, the senators decided to pass the Senate Bill 2865 or an act providing for a national policy on reproductive health and responsible parenthood in front of antiRH crowd that outnumbered the RH bill supporters at the gallery of the Senate session hall. Senators Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Francis Pangilinan and Ralph Recto cast affirmative vote. As expected, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III voted against the bill along with Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Gregorio Honasan II, Aquilino Pimentel III, Ramon Revilla Jr., Antonio Trillanes IV and Manny Villar. Senators Manuel Lapid and Sergio Osmena III were absent. Before the Senate approved on second reading via the same 13-8 vote, Sotto introduced his 33 amendments with 27 of them accepted by the bills principal sponsor Pia Cayetano and three withdrawn. Cayetano turned down three amendments including a motion to remove words and satisfying from the line a safe and satisfying sex life. With President Benigno Aquino III having certified the measure as urgent, the Senate immediately proceeded to nominal voting for third and final reading, giving each senator to explain his/her vote. In explaining his affirmative vote, Angara said 1,000 women continue to die yearly during pregnancy and childbirth and about 150,000 children are born from teenage mothers every year.

I vote YES to enacting the RH bill into law. Its an affirmation of our basic human rights, especially the rights of women, and the right to reproductive health, Angara said. Escudero said he voted yes because he wants each and every newborn Filipino to be given a fair and equal chance to uplift and improve their lives. The senator, in explaining his vote, noted that saying yes to the passing of the RH Bill does not make one corrupt or evil, rejecting accusations from anti-RH advocates. Those who are at the opposite ends of the bill both have good intentions for the country and our people, its just that we differ in the way we want it happen, he said. Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, maintained his position that he does not condone pre-marital sex and abortion. As a father, I will work hard to ensure that I teach them the right values in life and with the RH Bill, to arm them with knowledge so they can ably decide for themselves, Escudero said. Escudero said that after this deliberation, both sides that have been divided by the issue should accept the results and join hands in reconciliation, specifically mentioning the church and the government. Recto thanked the sponsor of the bill for accepting 20 of his amendments. I thank the sponsor for her consensual stance and her very compromising position. True, I lost half a dozen proposals but that is the beauty of this chamber. Disagreements are resolved through a vote, and when you lose one, you bow to the will of the majority, Recto said. Legarda said RH bill offers a small measure of support to make sure that access to information and services is made less difficult for the poor. The RH debate, Mr. President, is not about a house divided. It is about a country that struggles to see the truth, Legarda said. Guingona said he voted to defend the Filipinos right to make meaningful and responsible choices. I believe and vote to defend the right of every woman, every mother, every wife, to control her body and make meaningful choices for her future and the future of her family, Guingona said. Sotto vowed to monitor the implementation of the bill once it is signed into law by the President. Enrile did not defend his negative and just expressed hope that the bill would reduce poverty to a certain level. The bill mandates the government to respect individuals preferences and choice of family planning methods that are in accordance with their religious convictions and cultural beliefs, taking into consideration the states obligations under various human rights instruments. According to the proposed measure, no person should also be denied information and access to family planning services whether natural or artificial.

Reproductive Health 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, it said. (PNA) HBC/JFM URL: http://balita.ph/2012/12/17/senate-votes-13-8-to-pass-rh-bill/

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