As good as the Reproductive Health Bill sounds, it is, in fact, not as original as most people think. In fact, most of the component of the R.H. Bill is nothing but a simple repackaging of a previous law to make it look new. Not only that, the R.H. Bill’s main advocacy seems redundant in the way society in the Philippines operates because we talk about how immoral pre-marital sex is yet people have sex all the time. The only difference is they don’t tell anyone. If people actually uphold the traditions of the church the argument about the R.H. Bill would have been won long ago.
Now most people know that the R.H. Bill is all about birth control, family planning and choice for women. What most people don’t know about the R.H. Bill is that most of the women’s choice part is a rip off from the Magna Carta of Women. As a matter of fact, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez has underscored the redundancy of a portion of the Reproductive Health bill during interpellation in Congress last May 26, 2011. In Rep. Golez’s opinion, "I have shown that this [House Bill 4244] has been copied almost word for word, without attribution, from an existing law. Alam niyo, kapag ganitong kinopya lang, redundant na itong bill na ito as far as these provisions are concerned. Inulit lang eh." According to Rep. Golez, the Magna Carta of women, also known as Republic Act 9710, The components of the Magna Carta of Women revolves on "comprehensive health services" such as maternal care, safe and effective family planning methods, sexuality education, prevention and management of gynecological reproductive tract disorders and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prevention of abortion, assistance to victims of violence against women and children, and prevention and management of infertility and sexual dysfunction. As for the birth control part in the Reproductive Health Bill, well… what’s the point of making it available when it’s already available? Quite frankly, anyone can buy contraceptives at the nearest drug store. Condoms are readily available at the nearest 7/11 convenience stores. Any kid who looks 18 can buy one, go to the nearest motel and have sex.
Looking at this, a person should ask himself/herself if all that bickering and nagging and b!%@#ing about being a pro or an anti R.H. Bill follower was really worth it. After all, it is practically the same thing as the Magna Carta of Women and if you ask me, the Magna Carta of Women really didn’t do much in improving the status of our country. We’re still overpopulated, our country is still poor as hell, women still get unwanted pregnancy and our society is still divided because of a screwed up and messed up government. I’m honestly beginning to doubt whether the R.H. Bill will do any good once it is passed on as a law. Don’t get me wrong. I’m still a siding as a pro R.H. Bill because it MIGHT help us in some small way but looking back, all that time and effort was wasted on a pointless argument that might not result in anything remotely helpful at all.
No comments:
Post a Comment