The RH Bill aims to guarantee universal access to family planning methods and maternal care in the Philippines. There are two bills that have been proposed with the same goals but there is debate around funding and distribution of contraceptives. While maternal and child health provisions are agreed on, the key proposal of government funding for contraceptives like condoms, birth control pills and IUDs is highly controversial. Supporters argue it will help reduce poverty while opponents object for moral reasons, saying some methods are abortifacient.

1. RH Bill

2. RH BillThe Reproductive Health bills, popularly known as the RH Bill , are Philippine bills aiming to guarantee universal access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care. The bills have become the center of a contentious national debate. There are presently two bills with the same goals: House Bill No. 4244 or An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development, and For Other Purposes introduced by Albay 1st district Representative Edcel Lagman, and Senate Bill No. 2378 or An Act Providing For a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population and Development introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.

3. This RH Bill is a very hot issue of today which involves two powerful institutions, our Government and the Catholic Church. Our Government with the support of Pnoy is pushing the RH Bill for the sake of helping less-fortunate segment of our society. The Reproductive Health Bill will let couple (husband and wife) choose the perfect family planning method, whether artificial or natural birth control. On the other hand, the CBCP and other Catholic Associations are firmed with their stand about this issue, “NO TO RH BILL”. They condemned the artificial method because they believed that some of the listed contraceptives on the RH Bill are immoral which are more likely as an abortion.

4. While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate on its key proposal that the Philippine government and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of family planning devices such as condoms, birth control pills (BCPs) and IUDs, as the government continues to disseminate information on their use through all health care centers.

5. BackgroundThe first time the Reproductive Health Bill was proposed was in 1998. During the present 15th Congress, the RH Bills filed are those authored by House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman of Albay, HB 96; Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, HB 101, Akbayan Representatives Kaka Bag-ao & Walden Bello; HB 513, Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon, HB 1160, Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco, HB 1520, Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan. In the Senate, Sen. Michael Angelo F. Perolina has filed her own version of the RH bill which, she says, will be part of the country’s commitment to international covenants. On January 31, 2011, the House of Representatives Committee on Population and Family Relations voted to consolidate all House versions of the bill, which is entitled An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population Development and for Other Purposes.

6. Stated purposeOne of the main concerns of the bill, according to the Explanatory Note, is that the population of the Philippines makes it “the 10th 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.”

7. Family planningThe majority of Filipinos are in favor of family planning. The Catholic Church teaches the necessity of responsible parenthood and correct family planning (one child at a time depending on one's circumstances), while at the same time teaching that large families are a sign of God's blessings. It teaches that modern natural family planning, a method of fertility awareness, is in accord with God's design, as couples give themselves to each other as they are. The RH bill intends to help couples to have government funded access to artificial contraception methods as well.

8. One of the bill's components is "prevention of abortion and management of post-abortion complications." It provides that "the government shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner." It also states that "abortion remains a crime and is punishable," as the Constitution declares that “the State shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.

9. Morality and social effectsAnother central issue is the morality of contraception. Around 81% of Filipinos are Catholics, and the Catholic Church teaches that extramarital sex and contraception are moral evils, since they desecrate sex which is intrinsically linked to new human beings whose lives are sacred. Contraception, says the church, also makes spouses lie about their total self gift to their spouse, by not surrendering their personal fertility.

10. HIV/aidsThe RH bill provides for "prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other, STIs/STDs," especially since the number of HIV cases among the young nearly tripled from 41 in 2007 to 110 in 2008.Primary among the means is distribution of condoms. The proponents applauded government efforts last February 2010 when it distributed condoms in some areas of Manila.

11. Contraceptives

12. condomA condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases (STDs—such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV). It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner. Because condoms are waterproof, elastic, and durable, they are also used in a variety of secondary applications. These include collection of semen for use in infertility treatment as well as non-sexual uses such as creating waterproof microphones and protecting rifle barrels from clogging.

13. IUDThe intrauterine device (IUD) is a form of birth control; it is an object, placed in the uterus, to prevent pregnancy. Among modern IUDs, the two types available are copper-containing devices, and a hormone-containing device that releases a progestogen. Currently, there are over 10 different kinds of copper IUDs available in different parts of the world, and there is one hormonal device, called Mirena.

14. Birth control pillsThe birth control pill (also called "the Pill") is a daily pill that contains hormones to change the way the body works and prevent pregnancy. Hormones are chemical substances that control the functioning of the body's organs. In this case, the hormones in the Pill control the ovaries and the uterus.

15. Injectable contraceptiveThe contraceptive injection contains a progestogen hormone. The progestogen is injected into a muscle and then is gradually released into the bloodstream. It works mainly by stopping ovulation (the release of the egg from the ovary).