Census Year

Census
Reference
Date

Philippine
Population
(in million)

2010

May 1, 2010

92.34

2000

May 1, 2000

76.51

1990

May 1, 1990

60.70

Population grew by
1.90 percent
annually.
-National Statistics Office (2012)

REPUBLIC ACT NO.

10354
Senate Bill No. 2865
House Bill No. 4244
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL
POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD
AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Section 1. Title. This Act shall

be known as The Responsible
Parenthood and Reproductive
Health Act of 2012

February 21, 2011

-House Bill 4244 was submitted to
the Committee on Population and
Family Relations
- Substitution for House Bills 96,
101, 513, 1160, 1520, 3387

HB 96 introduced by Rep. Edcel Lagman entitled:

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY
ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE
PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION
DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
HB 101 introduced by Rep. Janet Garin entitled:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY
ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND POPULATION
DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSESo
HB 513 introduced by Reps. Bag-ao and Bello
entitled:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY
ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE
PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION
DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

HB 1160 introduced by Rep. Biazon entitled:

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL
POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
HB 1520 introduced by Rep. Syjuco entitled:
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE RIGHT OF THE
PEOPLE TO INFORMATION ON
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
HB 3387 introduced by Reps. Ilagan and De
Jesus entitled:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL
POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FOR
WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Reproductive Health and

Population and Development Act
will cover the following areas:

- Midwives or skilled attendants

- Access to family planning
- maternal death review
- Family planning supplies as essential
medicines
- Benefits for serious and life threatening
reproductive health conditions
- Mobile health care service
- Mandatory age-appropriate reproductive
health and sexuality education
- Responsibility of local family planning
office and certificate of compliance
- Capability building of barangay health
workers
- Ideal family size
- Employers responsibilities
- Multi-media campaign
- Implementing mechanisms
- Reporting requirements
- Prohibited acts
- Penalties

December 13, 2012

2nd Reading (House
of Representatives
113 YES
104 NO
3 ABSEENTISM

December 17-19, 2012

3rd and Final Reading
(House of
Representatives)
113 YES
104 NO
(Senate)
13 YES
8 NO

Signed by the President

on December 21, 2012

First week of January

2013, in a 25-page
petition for certiorari,
couple James and
Lovely Imbong, on
behalf of their minor
children and the
Magnificat Child
Development Center,
said the law mocks the
nations Filipino culture.

The Supreme Court has

ordered another 120-day
extension of the status
quo implementation of
the Reproductive Health
Law in its last hearing
about the petition.

Issues (Anti-RH)
Article III(Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Constitution
Section 4 No law shall be passed abridging the
freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press,
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble
and petition the Government for redress of
grievances

It violates our constitutional right

Section 23 (Prohibited Acts) eliminates any choice
for conscientious objectors and makes no room for
couples legitimate concerns. This means doctors,
and health workers are forced to dispense
contraceptive and other contraceptive devices and
methods; if they refuse, they must refer another
person who will dispense for them. If people will
not cooperate as what is stated in the given
provisions, they will be imprisoned for one to six
months and will pay for a fine amounting to
P10,000.00 to P100,000.00 as stated in Section 24
(Penalties)

Issues (Anti-RH)

DISTRIBUTION OF CONTRACEPTIVES
The distribution of contraceptives violates
Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies) of the
1987 Constitution
Section 12 The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and
shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous
social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother
and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and
primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for
civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall
receive the support of the Government.
Our fundamental law recognizes that human life must be
protected from the moment of conception, therefore,
contraceptives that causes early chemical abortion is clearly
unconstitutional.

Issues (Anti-RH)

BUDGET
More than 10 billion would be needed to
distribute artificial contraceptives calculated
as follows:
P20.00 per pill x 365 days = P7,300.00 per
woman
NDHS 2008 report lists 1.6 million women of
reproductive age
1.6 million women x P7,300 = P11.68 billion

Issues (Anti-RH)

SIDE EFFECTS
2%-5% chance that condoms will tear or slip
off
Women who use diaphragms may be prone
to bladder infections
Women who use spermicides have higher
risk of recurrent UTI

Issues (Anti-RH)

RH LAW IS A REDUNDANCY TO THE

MAGNA CARTA FOR WOMEN
Provisions in Section 20 (Womens Right to Health)
THE LAW OF VOID FOR VAGUENESS APPLIES
Sections 14, 22 and 27 are some parts of the laws
vagueness that may make some violators
apprehended but not punished because of its
validity argument. Hence, it may not fully protect
an individuals right to achieve sustainable
development and for violators, a due process.

ARGUMENTS (Pro-RH)

Managing population growth is not the

sole solution to poverty but is part of the
solution.
Access to RH information and services is
difficult for the poor. LGU officials can
also prevent access thru local legislations.
Providing poor couples with options for
planning families can help further to
improve the life chances of mothers and
children

ARGUMENTS (Pro-RH)

MORALITYOF THE LAW

Because the law affects all Filipinos,

not just Catholics, it allows every
Filipino to choose the method of
family planning and sexual education
that is consistent with ones religious
beliefs and moral conviction. The law
actually protects human rights by
providing freedom of choice.

ARGUMENTS (Pro-RH)

CHURCH AND THE STATE

While each religious group is free and

encouraged to express moral convictions,
the State cannot favor on religious group
over the others.
The Constitutional guarantee of religious
freedom obligates the State to protect
religious minorities from legislative
imposition of the beliefs of religious
majorities.

ARGUMENTS (Pro-RH)

USE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS

The government, while trying to

provide basic social services,
considers the implementation of
the law integral to improving the
lives of Filipinos, especially the
poor.

ARGUMENTS (Pro-RH)

CONSEQUENCES

Contraceptives, with proper information and

guidance, can prevent the worst consequences
of irresponsible sexual acts, such as unplanned
pregnancies, abortions, and the spread of
STDs.
Contraceptives like other available drugs or
food can have health-related side effects,
whether used properly or improperly. What is
important is regulation and proper information
for users.

ARGUMENTS (Pro-RH)

SEX EDUCATION

1. Parents can opt to send their

children to the sex education
courses provided by the law.
2. School-based sex education is
necessary as a support to parentadministered sex education

SOME FACTS

POPULATION DENSITY MAP PER

PROVINCE

POVERTY INCIDENCE

SITUATION IN GOVERNMENT
HOSPITALS

SHARED BEDS. Mothers make do with limited resources that government hospitals

Many women still deliver without medical attendance, 10 die everyday of

complications due to pregnancy and childbirth

Eight of the 10 leading causes of morbidity in the

Philippines are caused by infections:
Acute lower respiratory
Acute watery diarrhea
Bronchitis/ bronchiolitis
Influenza
Tuberculosis
Malaria
Acute febrile illness
Dengue fever

tract infection and pneumonia

Among these communicable diseases, pneumonia and

tuberculosis continue to be among the 10 leading
causes of mortality, causing a significant number of
deaths across the country.
-World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region Report

CONCLUSION

The law has its imperfections, due to loopholes and some

vagueness.

A sound population policy must be part of good governance to

promote faster economic growth and reduce poverty.

There should be a well-funded national family planning program

that provide accurate information and access to all methods of
contraception, is pro-poor, pro-women, pro-people and pro-life.

The government should accelerate the response to MDG 5

improve maternal health

Other financial resources including those allotted by foreign

donors to assist the Philippine Governments programs may also
be spent in other pursuits.