ANGELES CITY – Some 1,000 people from various parts of Central Luzon have expressed their opposition to the reproductive health (RH) bill, saying they are likely to risk being jailed or fined if the proposal is passed amid their intent to refuse to comply with some of its provisions, such as espousing such birth control measures as vasectomy and ligation.
They expressed their opposition in a forum held recently at the Holy Angel University (HAU) here and later issued a manifesto expressing their joint opposition to the bill now pending before Congress. The manifesto expressed their sentiments as employers, health care workers, married couples, parents and ordinary citizens.
“As employers, we do not want to be compelled to provide free reproductive health care services, supplies, devices and surgical procedures, including vasectomy and ligation, to our employees, and be subjected to both imprisonment and, or a fine, for every time that we fail to comply,” the manifesto said.
It cited one version of the RH bill which states that “employers shall provide for free delivery of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers more particularly women workers.”
Health care service providers said they would not want to be penalized “if we fail to provide reproductive health care services such as giving information on family planning methods and providing services like ligation and vasectomy, regardless of the patient’s civil status, gender, religion or age.”
On the other hand, parents said “we do not agree that children from age 10 to 17 should be taught their sexual rights and the means to have satisfying and ‘safe’ sex life as part of their school curriculum” as contained in the proposed bill’s Section 12 on Reproductive Health Education and Section 4 under the Definition of Family Planning and Productive Health.
The memorandum also objected to Sec. 21 on Prohibited Acts of the RH bill that penalizes “expression of opinion” that could be interpreted as “malicious disinformation” on the bill.
“We also oppose other provisions such as losing our parental authority over a minor child who was raped and found pregnant. We also do not agree to the provision which reclassifies contraceptives as essential medicines and appropriating limited government funds to reproductive services instead of basic services,” it added.
The manifesto also cited the World Health Organization (WHO) as reporting that oral contraceptives can cause cancer to humans, noting particularly breast cancer which claims 599,000 lives annually.
They expressed their opposition in a forum held recently at the Holy Angel University (HAU) here and later issued a manifesto expressing their joint opposition to the bill now pending before Congress. The manifesto expressed their sentiments as employers, health care workers, married couples, parents and ordinary citizens.
“As employers, we do not want to be compelled to provide free reproductive health care services, supplies, devices and surgical procedures, including vasectomy and ligation, to our employees, and be subjected to both imprisonment and, or a fine, for every time that we fail to comply,” the manifesto said.
It cited one version of the RH bill which states that “employers shall provide for free delivery of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers more particularly women workers.”
Health care service providers said they would not want to be penalized “if we fail to provide reproductive health care services such as giving information on family planning methods and providing services like ligation and vasectomy, regardless of the patient’s civil status, gender, religion or age.”
On the other hand, parents said “we do not agree that children from age 10 to 17 should be taught their sexual rights and the means to have satisfying and ‘safe’ sex life as part of their school curriculum” as contained in the proposed bill’s Section 12 on Reproductive Health Education and Section 4 under the Definition of Family Planning and Productive Health.
The memorandum also objected to Sec. 21 on Prohibited Acts of the RH bill that penalizes “expression of opinion” that could be interpreted as “malicious disinformation” on the bill.
“We also oppose other provisions such as losing our parental authority over a minor child who was raped and found pregnant. We also do not agree to the provision which reclassifies contraceptives as essential medicines and appropriating limited government funds to reproductive services instead of basic services,” it added.
The manifesto also cited the World Health Organization (WHO) as reporting that oral contraceptives can cause cancer to humans, noting particularly breast cancer which claims 599,000 lives annually.
