Kapihan Consensus Bill on Population: Mulat Pinoy

Last Saturday 9 Oct 2010 was the media forum of Mulat Pinoy Consensus Bill on Population Development Kapihan held in Annabels Restaurant. 

Prior to this event Media Organization, NGOs, BBC Bishop Businessmen Conference, MBC Makati Business Club, PCPD Philippines Center for Population Development made a consultation session on the consensus bill last year.

The speaker of this last press event was former Senator Vicente Paterno a former UP and Harvard  graduate. Also former DPWH, Oil and Deputy Executive Cabinet Secretary shares his wisdom to us.

Senator Paterno Said “The main purpose of the bill was to help the poor people” He made a graph and study presentation to us. That actual survey shows that most of the Filipino who has many children are those belong to very poor people. Senator said “we need to empower the poor and less educated people” to chose which family planning to used. (Natural or Artificial)

We discussed also that some Bishop agrees to contraceptives but the majority are not. And it’s always cut to congress and senate big discussion. Those contraceptives like condom and pills were not in favor of by church especially the Roman Catholic Church were 80 percent of the population comes from. During the 9year term of Former President Arroyo contraceptives were not allowed because of the Church.

Also it doesn’t matter either you choose contraceptives or the Christian way of natural reproductive health. For as long you are responsible for the thing called “Family Planning”.

Other Media asks what’s the Interest of the Business Sector? Senator thinks that if we educate people they can finish high school or college and work in call center. And be a 7eleven customer business people needs a paying customers..then he laugh..we laugh as well...In addition I think it would lessen also crimes and attracts more foreign investors. Poor country are prone to crime so we need this education what do you think?

For me it’s ok to have many children as long as you are responsible enough to educate, feed and guide them. But for the poor who got a lot of children its quite unfair that the government can’t do something to educate them right? Whether it’s natural or artificial as long as you educate them it’s up for them to choose from.  

Reproductive health doesn’t lead to distribution of condoms or contraceptives. Senator Said “It’s the “free availability of contraceptives for everybody. The RH bill does not distinguish who receives contraceptives but the most fair will be the poor. And it is the obligation of the government to educate them.

The Senator also cites some advocacies of the church to support government and religious organizations. To train people of their area of responsibility From Barangay Captain, Mayor, Congressman to Governors.

I think the most important here now is the act of volunteerism advocacy like Efren Piñaflorida do. I it must be done by various sectors even all of us can promote/teach the basic “Family Planning” to everybody.