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Philippines plans for population problem
Source: Agencies |
November 12, 2010, Friday
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A group of Philippine lawmakers said yesterday it will try to pass a family planning bill with backing from the country's new president despite strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church.
Members of the House of Representatives advocating family planning told reporters they will begin public hearings in two weeks on six different versions of the proposed law to come up with a single comprehensive reproductive health bill that will include family planning, improved maternal and child care, prevention of unsafe abortions, safeguarding of women's rights and poverty reduction.
Representative Edcel Lagman, one of the bill's main proponents, said they will try to pass the measure before Congress adjourns next June.
He said opposition to the bill comes mainly from the church hierarchy, not from ordinary citizens in the predominantly Catholic nation.
Lagman said he is confident President Benigno Aquino III - who recently stirred debate over family planning by expressing support for the right to contraceptives - will back the bill.
Representative Jose Maria Zubiri said the country's "overrapid and unsustainable population growth ... has already become a national security issue."
"Many of our problems in the Philippines stem from the fact that too many Filipinos make too many children that they cannot afford to take care of," he said.
The country's population, estimated at 94 million, is about double what it was 30 years ago.
Members of the House of Representatives advocating family planning told reporters they will begin public hearings in two weeks on six different versions of the proposed law to come up with a single comprehensive reproductive health bill that will include family planning, improved maternal and child care, prevention of unsafe abortions, safeguarding of women's rights and poverty reduction.
Representative Edcel Lagman, one of the bill's main proponents, said they will try to pass the measure before Congress adjourns next June.
He said opposition to the bill comes mainly from the church hierarchy, not from ordinary citizens in the predominantly Catholic nation.
Lagman said he is confident President Benigno Aquino III - who recently stirred debate over family planning by expressing support for the right to contraceptives - will back the bill.
Representative Jose Maria Zubiri said the country's "overrapid and unsustainable population growth ... has already become a national security issue."
"Many of our problems in the Philippines stem from the fact that too many Filipinos make too many children that they cannot afford to take care of," he said.
The country's population, estimated at 94 million, is about double what it was 30 years ago.
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