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The proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008, more popularly known as the Reproductive Health Bill, has produced a stir in the Philippine society for months now. It is authored principally by Rep. Edcel Castelar Lagman, who represents the 1st District of Albay.

The bill primarily aims to give information and access to natural and modern family planning. This is the main reason why the Roman Catholic Church in the country has been expressing its firm opposition to the passing of the said bill. According to the Church, this action is a mere disobedience of God’s laws. Still according to a famous figure of the Church, the Philippines is being dubbed as the only Christian Nation in Southeast Asia, so anything that is against life is also against the Church.

I do not have anything against that Church official, nor the Roman Catholic Church itself. I have been born and raised by my parents to always have fear and love for God. My family has been a devotee of the Roman Catholic Church ever since. But in that case, I am expressing my disagreement to this institution.

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How can they say that the Reproductive Health Bill is anti-life when it only tries to enlighten the minds of the Filipinos to the wrong notions of family planning? How can they say that the Reproductive Health Bill is anti-life when it also promotes the use of the natural methods of family planning that the Church even promote? The only addendum that it suggests is the use of contraceptives such as pills, condoms, and the like which the Church disagrees with. Where is anti-life there? Isn’t it more anti-life if because of the lack of proper orientation to Filipinos, population explodes to the ceiling and more and more cases of unwanted pregnancies, early marriages among the youth, and abortion increase?

Yes. Because of ignorance and improper orientation, innocent lives are deprived of their rights to be born, have name, and enjoy the wonderful creations of God for them. How many more cases of fetus discovered in restroom trash cans or near creeks and gutters will grace the news headlines? How many more cases of infants left in front of orphanage gates or even church entrances will be found? How many more young children will be used by syndicate groups because they have been deserted by their parents at their young age? How many more families starve to death because their parents cannot sustain all the needs of their countless children?

Why should the proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008 be approved?

Simple. To stop population explosion and save the lives of innocent Filipinos.