Responsible Parenthood, Informed Choice

HOUSE BILL NO. 5043

What's wrong about the RH Bill? The antis react to it as though it legalizes abortion. If you have read it, you will understand that it is about responsible parenthood, informed choice, education, and respect for life. RH Bill is NOT about abortion. It is about informing the people of their responsibilities and does not in any way consent the evil act of abortion. It is stated in the bill itself that it does not change the law on abortion, and abortion remains a crime which is punishable by law. What it says though is to ensure that the women seeking care for post-abortion complication be treated in the most humane, non-judgemental and compassionate manner.

Let's face it, the popoulation is continuously growing and it is directly related to the increasing rate of poverty in the country. Poverty highly contributes to illiteracy and criminality in children. More and more crimes are being committed by young children and teenagers and we cannot discount the fact that these kids lacked proper guidance from their parents. With the rationale that sustainable human development is better assured with a manageable population of healthy, educated and productive citizens -- this policy, if enacted and enforced accordingly, would help assure a chance of a better life for the future generation.

In reality, the government is trying to secure a healthier population for our country. We must understand that we also have a moral obligation to the people especially the youth who are deemed to be the hope of our nation. If we look at what is happening now, families with low or no income are the ones who bear more children. Those children grow up without proper nourishment and guidance since their parents are incapable of providing even their very basic needs. We see these children roaming the streets, selling sampaguitas and asking for alms at a very young age, working to bring food on their table. That is not the life that these kids deserve. If their parents have been educated enough to know the consequences of their actions they should have been aware of their responsibilities and not "use" their kids to earn a living. We all know that there are syndicates who exploit children in their crimes.

Its tiring to hear drama and litany from them saying their children are blessings from God that is why they make a lot. Enough of that! Yes, children are blessings and as such they should be treated with dignity and should be well taken cared for and not considered as money makers. But on the contrary, they let their "blessings" work, beg on the streets, steal from other people, and in some cases sell them for profit. Is that the kind of world we want for the underprivileged children?

Bottom-line, if you can't take care of them, don't make them. If a family does not have the capacity to rear children, then you should not have one. Don't be selfish. Think of the child that they will bring to this world if they themselves rarely have food to eat. It is easy to say that it is their right to have as many children as they want, then let the government or society help them out if they can no longer sustain them. That is morally unsound and unjust. As a friend once posted in facebook, "Cure the source and cause, not the symptom and manifestation."

For me, a drastic solution to this is to have the government control pregnancies by ligation or vasectomy of those who make making children their habit. Government should offer free maternity service for the poor, study each family and scrutinize their ability to raise and care for their kids. If a family is only capable of raising one child, then by all means do the necessary surgery after their first kid. But then again, i am not in the position to do so. Just my two cents.