The Reproductive Health Bill, popularly known as the RH Bill, is a Philippine bill aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. The bill has become the center of a contentious national debate. There are presently two bills with the same goals: House Bill No. 96 or the Reproductive Health Act and Population and Development Act of 2010 introduced by Albay 1st district representative Edcel Lagman, and Senate Bill No. 2378 or the Reproductive Health Act introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. One of the main concerns of the bill, according to the Explanatory Note, is that population of the Philippines makes it “the 12th most populous nation in the world today”, that the Filipino women’s fertility rate is “at the upper bracket of 206 countries.” It states that studies and surveys “show that the Filipinos are responsive to having smaller-sized families through free choice of family planning methods.” It also refers to studies which “show that rapid population growth exacerbates poverty while poverty spawns rapid population growth.” And so it aims for improved quality of life through a “consistent and coherent national population policy.” (Taken from: Wikipedia) Since economic growth is measured by the per capita GDP (Gross Domestic Product), with the rapid increase in population growth, our country is faced with a much greater challenge of efficiently providing the basic services to the society. Inefficiency in providing these basic needs often leads to poverty. Higher population means greater expense and more services to offer which our country cannot afford. To address this challenge, one effective solution is the implementation of this Bill. We should look into the details of this Bill and be open-minded. We Filipinos have to understand that now is the perfect time to make a change. Let us stand our ground and support this Bill!

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