Banning Contraceptives and Sex Education in Ayala Alabang

Sometime in February 2011, news broke about Ordinance 1 of Barangay Ayala Alabang, purportedly enacted on the 3^rd of January 2011. Two objectives typify the ordinance's thrust to turn into law a religious doctrine favored by the barangay officials: 1) "to acknowledge the unborn child as a human being with human personality … [and] legal protection … from the moment of … fertilization" and 2) "to encourage the legal, moral and healthy sexual relationships among those entitled thereto under the laws of the country."

In pursuance of these objectives, the ordinance sought to forbid, at the risk of incurring fine or imprisonment, the provision of family planning information and services, the provision of sexuality education, the selling of contraceptives and condoms, and the government budgetary appropriation for reproductive health supplies and services.

This ordinance, patterned after a similar bill initiated by anti reproductive health solons in the House of Representatives, was touted to be the "model that would be replicated in all barangays of the Philippines," and perhaps achieve success where the original legislative measure could not. It was to be the ultraconservative Catholic groups' weapon against the Reproductive Health Bill that had gained wide acceptance among the public and even among executive and legislative officials. But perhaps knowing how the ordinance provisions could not be justified in open and free discussions, it was surreptitiously passed, without the necessary public hearings. Only the vigilance of Ayala Alabang residents, like former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral; the critique of legal authorities like Fr. Joaquin Bernas; and the decisive action of the Health Committee of the Muntinlupa City Council could stop the illegal ordinance in its tracks.

The lessons for health and human rights workers and advocates are grave:

1. Ultraconservatives are unrelenting in their attacks on citizens' freedom of conscience and privacy and the right to information and health care
2. These ultraconservatives have no scruples about spreading false information, issuing illegal orders, and using stealth to insert their religious doctrines in public policies
3. A similar order has been in effect for many years now in Manila and other places with grievous effects on poor women and their children
4. If they can tyrannize the well-off Bgy. Ayala Alabang, they can impose the same measure in poorer communities.

Let us help the residents of Ayala Alabang put an end to Ordinance 1. Let us end the tyranny of uninformed and moralistic Barangay Officials. Let us work for freedom of conscience and the right to health care!