POVERTY AND PRO-LIFE

The Philippine Star
09/15/08

With our Asian neighbors steadily making inroads toward economic growth with the help of an effective population management program, we can ill afford to dilly dally while the rest of the world passes us – again.

Government has time and again tried to adapt population control policies but has often been forced to set aside its plans in deference to what the powerful and politically influential Catholic Church wants.

In the midst of another escalating clash between the Church and pro-choice advocates (or those who are pushing for population control through artificial means), a workable middle ground is more than needed at this time.

While the Catholic Church has good reason to oppose some provisions of the proposed bill first introduced by Rep. Edcel Lagman four years ago, those for of the passage of the bill have also their practical and valid reasons.

The current Reproductive Health bill, or HB 4110, is already a consolidation of a number of reproductive health bills filed before and should be an improved version – unless of course it has become a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth.

Moral ground

In this long-running debate, the church takes the moral ground by stating that men and women must live morally upright lives and practice fidelity and chastity within and outside marriage.

It has consistently frowned on the use of artificial birth control methods, and also expressed its reservation with some ‘vague’ definitions in the bill and a provision that provides post-abortion care to women who have had abortion, induced or otherwise.

The Catholic Church also believes that population control is not the solution to poverty. It goes as far as saying that poverty is the issue, and population growth is not.

Scarce resources

On the other hand, those supporting the controversial bill reiterate that the growing population, if not controlled soon, would further worsen poverty among Filipinos.

In introducing the bill years back, Lagman said the escalation of the population “aggravates the debt menace, hampers delivery of reproductive health care services and derails sustainable human development.”

Because of overpopulation, in part due to the country having one of the highest birth rates in the world (the Church says it’s 1.99 percent, and not 2.36 percent), we may soon find ourselves moving up the ladder as the 12th most populous country with more than 160 million people by 2035.

Thinly spread resources

The large population, Lagman said, puts a strain on the government’s budget for basic services like education and health.

With the current population at about 85 million and an education budget of almost P100 billion, the investment per student in public schools over a 10-month school year is just P4,500. With this amount, no wonder the quality of our education is so bad.

Singapore, with a declining birth rate and dwindling population easily spends 10 times the amount we allocate, while Malaysia spends five times more, and Thailand, eight times.

The relatively meager education budget compared to our relatively huge student population of almost 23 million likewise leads to classroom shortages now breaching 40,000 and a teacher shortage of around 55,000. Textbooks, if they ever reach public schools in many rural areas, are often shared by three to four students.

For health services, our annual budget of P11 billion annually translates to 35 centavos per capita daily, compared to P17.17 in Thailand, P12.40 in Malaysia and Indonesia, and P103.96 in Singapore.

No wonder we have such a high child and maternal mortality and morbidity rate. Ironically, the causes of death are mostly preventable and curable.

When majority of the population receive sub-par education and inadequate health services, their productivity and capacity to contribute to national growth is affected. Thus we see the growth in the ranks of people living in poverty.

Freedom to choose

I believe in the importance of a country with a strong morale and spiritual fiber, but I also insist that it is the Church who must take the lead in shaping the behavior of its followers through its own outreach programs.

The Church must likewise herd its people along the path that it believes is right, but it must do so without using the state’s resources. The Philippines, after all, is a country of multiple faiths and cultures.

The reproductive bill does not singularly advocate artificial birth control methods, but rather offers couples the right to choose and decide how they would want to shape their family’s future.

As a government working in the interest of its citizens, regardless of religious faith, it must adopt a reproduction health bill that would provide a better life for all Filipinos today and in the coming decades.

Collegiate Champions League update

Based on results of games in the various “mother leagues,” the following shows the ranking of top teams in Luzon: Region 1 (Ilocos / Baguio) –University of Northern Philippines (SCUAA Champion), St. Louis University and University of Cordillera; Region 2 (Pangasinan / Tarlac / Pampanga) – Lyceum of Subic Bay (UCLAA Champion), University of Luzon Golden Tigers and Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes; and Region 3 (Quezon / Bicol) – University of Nueva Caceres Greyhounds, M. S. Enverga University (QPSBA Champion) and Computer Communication Development Institute.

In the Visayas, the following are the top teams: Cebu – University of Visayas Green Lancers, University of San Jose Recoletos Jaguars and University of San Carlos Warriors; Region 4 (Iloilo / Bacolod) – Western Institute Technology, John B. Lacson Maritime University Dolphins and West Negros University Mustangs; Region 5 (Dumaguete / Bohol) – BIT International College Cruisers, Holy Name University Falcons and Siliman University Stallions; and Region 6 (Tacloban / Ormoc / Samar) – Western Leyte College Mustangs, AMA Computers Titans and Leyte College Cougars.

In Mindanao, the top teams are: Region 7 (Cagayan de Oro / Misamis Oriental) – Xavier University Crusaders, Capitol University Stallions and Cagayan de Oro College Scorpions; Region 8 (Davao / Socsargen) – Agro Industrial College Sailors, EMAR College Red Horse, and University of Mindanao Mustangs; and Region 9 (Zamboanga / Misamis Occidental) – Immaculate Concepcion School Phoenix, Kabansalan Institute Technology and Ateneo de Zamboanga Blue Eagles.

For more details about the biggest collegiate basketball event for the year sponsored by SMART and PLDT, visit the official website, www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, SalcedoVillage, 1227 MakatiCity. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.