RH Law in the Philippines

Essay by npmalit August 2013

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Are the guiding principles found in Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Bill based on Christianity's Natural Law or on social conventions during the time the bill was made?

The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Bill has become a big issue in the Philippines. It has been debated by different groups and institutions that created the two different sides named as the "Pro-Life" and "Pro-Choice" that has advocacies regarding the preservation of life and the exercise of freedom.

The Pro-Life group advocates the legal protection of human embryos and fetuses, especially by favoring the outlawing of abortion on the ground that it is the taking of a human life. In the Philippines, there is a Pro-Life movement founded by Sr. Mary Pilar S. Versoza, RGS named Pro-Life Philippines Foundation Inc. that has fought the abuse of human rights especially at the times of Martial Law.

Though Sr. Pilar has already passed away last September 9, 2012, the Pro-life movement still continues the advocacy of promoting the preservation of life by reaching out to families nationwide through her radio programs, TV appearances, books written and training programs that Sr. Pilar has developed. The Pro-Life Philippines Foundation Inc. attributed all of their hard work and accomplishments to the Saving Grace of the Good Shepherds that has reached out into schools, parishes, offices, factories, depressed communities and rural areas.

While on the other hand, the Pro-Choice is defined as favoring the legal right of women and girls to choose whether or not to continue a pregnancy to term. There are no specific Pro-Choice movement in the Philippines as of now, but there are some advocates who share their ideals regarding the Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Bill independently. These advocates have urged the Congress to...