Draconian law by family planners.

Manila -- A House Bill of "reproductive rights" introduced to the Philippine Congress in June 2005 still has not passed. Called the "Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act of 2005," the bill would, if passed, allow "safe and affordable" access to "reproductive health care services." The Bill defines "reproductive health care" as "availability and access to a full range of methods, techniques, and services that contribute to reproductive and sexual health and well-being ... including family planning information and services." The vote is scheduled for January 16, 2006.

Under the proposed legislation, all employers must provide these services free of charge to their employees, including Catholic hospitals. No provision is made for conscientious objection. Non-compliance will bring a six-month prison term.

The Bill also makes sex education for grades 5-12 mandatory in all schools, Catholic or otherwise. Topics in the curriculum must include "reproductive health and sexual rights," "sexual identity," and "gender roles."

Further, the Bill will promote "two children as the ideal family size." Children from families of only two children will receive preference for scholarships at the post-secondary level.

The Bill will also impose a "condom culture" on the Philippines, which until now, has had an impressive record controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS. Since the mid-eighties, "Operation MDS-Free Philippines," led by Dr. Rene Bullecer, has successfully promoted an educational program of abstinence before marriage and marital fidelity (Global Family Life News, June-July, 2005).

A primary reason for the delay in passing the bill has been relentless pressure from the Philippines Bishops' Conference. Thousands of people attended a protest rally in March, 2005, organized by the bishops. Opponents of the bill include the mayor of Manila who labeled it "destructive" and "just an 'alibi' for the failure of the government to address the issue of poverty."

The bishops' tactic is to get the truth about the bill to the public and to suggest alternatives. Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao charged that supporters of the bill are receiving financial backing from foreign agencies. He pointed out that the Philippines is one of the countries included on the National Security Study Memorandum 200 list, a United States document declassified in 1974. The document lists countries whose population growth (and resultant prosperity) would threaten U.S. overseas economic interests. The solution recommended by the document was population control through pressures from United Nations aid agencies and the World Bank.

At a press conference Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission of Family Life, said that Bill 3773 promotes abortion, disguised as reproductive health. He pointed out the low cost of natural family planning compared to the 2.5 billion pesos (U.S. $37 million) annually to import contraceptives. He suggested this money could be put to use to finance micro-businesses.

The Archbishop was joined at the press conference by Dr. Bernardo Villeges, president of the University of Asia and the Pacific, and Jose Sandejas of the Brotherhood of the Filipino Family.

Dr. Villeges said there is no scientific evidence that population growth should be blamed for poverty, and suggested that the use of contraceptives is itself a sign of poverty. Despite fierce opposition from the bishops and pro-life groups, the Bill is scheduled for further debate in the Philippine House of Representatives in mid-January 2006 (LifeSiteNews, Mar. 15, 2005; AsiaNews, Nov. 4, 2005; Philippine Daily Inquirer, Dec. 14, 2005).