Rep. Jose Maria Zubiri said many of the Philippines' problems "stem from the fact that too many Filipinos make too many children that they cannot afford to take care of." He added that the "over-rapid and unsustainable population growth" of the last three decades "was faster than the economic growth that could support it." The country's population has doubled in the last 30 years to an estimated 94 million people.
Rep. Edcel Lagman, a main supporter of the bill, said about 100 of the 278 House members signed on as co-authors of various versions of the measure. He is confident the final version of the bill will receive support from a majority of lawmakers and from President Benigno Aquino. Aquino has recently stirred debate over the issue by expressing his belief in a right to contraception. His predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, opposed similar legislation during her nine years in office.
Catholic Church officials oppose artificial contraception and sex education, arguing that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children. Lagman said most of the opposition to the bill comes from the church hierarchy, not citizens.
Prevention of Unsafe Abortions
Rep. Luz Ilgan of the Gabriela Women's Party said that the proposal will reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion. An August report by the Center for Reproductive Rights found that in 2008, about 560,000 Filipino women sought abortion services involving crude and painful methods. The report noted that about 90,000 women suffer complications from abortions and an estimated 1,000 die each year. Complications stemming from abortion services are among the top 10 reasons Filipino women seek hospital care (Teves, AP/Miami Herald, 11/11).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
© 2010 National Partnership for Women & Families. All rights reserved.
вторник, 21 июня 2011 г.
Philippine Lawmakers To Push Comprehensive Family Planning Bill Next Year
Members of the Philippine House will try to pass a single, comprehensive family planning bill before Congress adjourns in June 2011, despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church, the AP/Miami Herald reports. The lawmakers said on Thursday that they plan to hold public hearings in two weeks on six different versions of the proposal, which will address family planning, sex education, prevention of unsafe abortions, improving maternal and child health, poverty reduction and safeguards for women's rights.
Подписаться на:
Комментарии к сообщению (Atom)
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий