RH Bill: A Friend or a Foe?

            I was walking my way home when I saw this tarpaulin that struck my attention. I respect their decision of not supporting the bill, but placing a list of SCIENCE FACTS on the RH bill is unacceptable. Did they thought about it first before making that tarp? I respect their ideas, but let me also share to you guys the voice that supports RH bill. Below is the written speech I composed for our finals in speech class. It's not updated, but it gives a glimpse of what RH bill is all about.

Can You Afford the Risks of Not Passing HB 4110?

                Overpopulation has made our country a big can of sardines.  Having more mouths to feed is already too heavy a burden for families, often compelling children to take to the streets in search of something to relieve the grumble of their hungry tummies instead of going to school.  As if that were not enough, overpopulation adds another thorn to the side.  Overpopulation also causes the rapid spreading of sexually transmitted infections.

                The population issue is a multidimensional problem requiring multi-faceted solutions.  One proposed solution comes from Congress: pass the Reproductive Health Act.  What is this Act all about?

Bill of Freedom

                First of all, the Reproductive Health Act is not yet an Act.  It is still a bill pending in Congress.  The heart of the Bill’s current version—House Bill No. 4110—is freedom of access.  Those are the keywords of the Bill—freedom of access.  You have an inalienable right to access reproductive health, services, information, and education, as well as the right to equality, equity, and development.  In effect, the Bill upholds your freedom to responsibly decide the number, spacing, and timing of your children, as well as the freedom to know how.  House Bill 4110, then, is a Bill for freedom.

                What does the country stand to gain from the Reproductive Health Act?  A lot of crucial things.  Foremost among them is responsible parenthood.  Married couples can decide how many children to have so that the parents can adequately provide for their children.  The Reproductive Health Act protects every Filipino’s right to access health information—regardless of age or marital status.  Gender equality and equity are likewise protected and upheld.  The Act includes measures to lessen abortion, to improve maternal and child health, and to curb the pandemic of sexually transmitted infections.

                Who stands to lose from the passing of House Bill 4110 into law?  No one, actually—except those who enjoy seeing more hungry children begging for crumbs, those enjoy seeing lives wasted because of sexually transmitted infections, and those who enjoy standing by while malnutrition and child mortality rates soar skywards. 

                Would you enjoy that?  I suppose you won’t.  Push for the passage of House Bill 4110, then.

            This is a democratic country. You have the right the choose, whether you're an pro or against the RH bill. The Thinking Cup has spoken its words, now it's time to hear it from you.


Photo Credit:
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=freedom#/dycr0m