Gorospe, Maria Christine B.

Sociology

BSA 3-2

Prof. Regina Flor O. Pea

REACTION PAPER ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, most commonly known as the
Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, had undoubtingly been an object of issue, debate and controversy
to the public eye of Filipinos for the last recent years it had been anticipated. And with all these issues,
criticisms, news, and discussions whether the bill should be amended or implemented, I had been very
conscious and aware of the standpoints of the two opposing sides- the Pro and the Anti RH Law.
To present the perspective of those who take side on the implementation of this law particularly
represented by Dr. Lordivino Mesina, PLM students and honourable senators like Pia Cayetano who was
interviewed and whose speeches are shown in the documentary, it is provided that this law will mandate
the government to promote, with no any predisposition, all effective, natural and modern methods of
family planning that are medically safe and legal, which includes the publics universal access to methods
of contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal health care most especially, for the
women who are the sole beneficiaries of this pronouncement. It is also stipulated in the law that trainings
and seminars would also be provided for health care professionals and that age-appropriate sex education
will be integrated in the curriculum of grade five to grade 12 students to provide awareness and
preventative control to the growing population of the country.
On the other hand, those who oppose the former side of this argument, this time represented by
Dr. Ryan Capitulo and Senators Manny Villar, Jinggoy Estrada and Tito Sotto and others believe that
overpopulation is not merely the problem in our society and that this law is not necessary and not actually
the answer to the predicaments and shortcomings our country is facing and that the implementation of this
law is just a bad expense for the government. They suppose that what the country needs as of the very
moment is more work for the public, housing programs, more hospitals, health insurances and any other
related programs that could address the poverty of the people. They conceded that morality and the
upbringing of the family should be uprightly held and discourage the contraceptive-thinking that this
law seem to promote in the young mind of the youth.
Living in a Christian and conservative country, It is already expected that this kind of matter
would be sensitive and would make such a great deal on the minds of Filipino individuals, needless to
say, that the pronouncement of this law might dispute the morality and preservation of Filipino culture.
Though I completely understand the concept and the desire to preserve the conservatism in our country, as
a student and a child of modern generation of the century, I cannot say I am against with this course of
action. As we are all aware, the time has immensely changed and we are not already living in a primitive
world where people are just watching and wondering what the world would be in a distant future. We are
now in fast-moving generation whereby everything is calculated, planned and measured. And with all the
problems and nuisances that our country is facing, most especially poverty, which I think is the heaviest

burden of all, I think it is just right to make some plan of action even if it is just a preventive measure of
population, than to have and do nothing and just let the matter go out of hand.
Through my continuous learnings and personal disposition on the way I see things, one of the
main reasons why our country is poor and struggling is because individuals lack knowledge, be it on law,
or even on simplest little things that should be resolved. And because of this downbeat, most of us are not
aware of the consequences of the action we are engaging, which I think is the rationale behind one of the
factors of poverty: Overpopulation the highlight and strongest point of RH law implementation.
Through this bill, this problem could actually be resolved by providing the public, not just the
reproductive health care, but also the knowledge they most need upon engaging with activities related
with and what the provision is all about. Unwanted pregnancies, unprepared parents, abortion and broken
families could actually be avoided and can further promote responsible parenthood which could also
further stop child labor, family malnutrition and other health issues that are all linked together with
poverty and are very evident in our society.
Moreover, I firmly believe that all the values and lessons are first taught and best learned at home
as what Sen. Estrada had said on the documentary. It is true that our family, especially the teachings of
our parents are the most important foundation that one could ever have for a pursuit of a decent life. So if
in any case, some are deeply bothered by the idea of contraceptives and other related products being
within grasps of their children or immediate family, maybe it is not the rulings of the government that
should be put in question but the upholding and values they are instilling to their children. Responsible
Parenthood Act does not actually encourage the masses to engage with such activity but it prepares and
opens the mind of the individuals on the entire closed path that our community had been reluctant to
accept.
Withal these thoughts running on my mind, I realize how unacceptable it is to just look, weigh
and limit what RH Law can do just because of the yet unscathed morality and culture and how profound
the underlying reasons there might be behind the peoples affirmation on this matter. Considering all our
different perspective, maybe accepting this law wouldnt actually mean abandoning the old culture ways
and forgetting the values and norms instilled by our forefathers about the importance and sacredness of
human life, chastity and purity. On the bigger picture, maybe this liberal way of thinking is a collective
manner of the Filipinos stepping outside the box for a more practical and better life. Bearing in mind the
entire load that our country is trying to juggle at hand and as a responsible adult in the near future, I
cannot help but see it as a hope that maybe, even in just simple little way in the mind of our fellow
Filipinos, we are enriching new ideas and creating an improvement that could launch a milestone of our
much-awaited progress.
We all have our convictions and free will on how we will handle our life. At the end of the day, it
is still on our hands how we will put in good use all that we are given. Whether you are in favour or
against with this law, the government could not actually force you to do something that you are not
willing to do. It is still at our very own discretion how we will control our lives, and at our personal
estimation of what good life really is and which side are you really ought to be.