Pass the RH Bill Now!

Pass the RH Bill Now!

This is our call to action to legislators.

PiLaKK is a federation of women and youth organizations from poor communities in Malabon, Pasay, Towerville and Graceville in San Jose del Monte Bulacan, Manila, Eastern Samar and Bohol. For years now, Reproductive Health has been part of key issues that the federation has campaigned for.

Enacting a law on reproductive health (RH) is extremely important for women in poor communities. Thus, we affirm our full support for proposals like House Bills 96, 101, 513, 1166, 1520 and 3387.

Many life-threatening conditions begin from the reproductive system and require RH services and care that are integrated with the health system. Among these are maternal and child health, family planning, care for post-abortion complications, infertility and other gynaecologic conditions, sexually transmitted infections especially HIV and AIDS, cancers, and other conditions related to sexuality.

A Reproductive Health law should have been passed years ago to deter local governments from banning any kind of family planning, especially the effective artificial methods.

If a Reproductive Health law was in place, the Manila City government would have been barred from banning artificial methods. The lives of women in Manila would not have been put in danger.

A stark example is Anne of Parola, about to give birth at age 13. She has had no prenatal check-up due to lack of money for hospital visits. Her live-in partner scavenges for recyclables from garbage to earn a living.

Vilma of San Andres Bukid is 34 and has 13 children. She had wanted a tubal sterilization after her fifth child, but since the procedure disappeared from Manila, she ended up giving birth every year. Her husband works intermittently at a junk shop.

Olivia died after giving birth to her tenth child. Lacking money to pay for a midwife, a hilot (traditional birth attendant) managed her childbirth.

As the RH Bill suffers from delay, 11 women die each day from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. For unplanned pregnancies which stem from lack of family planning services, desperate women use various drugs that purport to induce menstruation sold at the front of Quiapo Church, a method that can sometimes be fatal.

The RH Bill is clear in not changing the law on abortion, which remains a crime under Article 259 of the Revised Penal Code.

Women in poor communities who bear the burden of childbirth and fending for their families know that the RH Bill aims to reduce the number of women resorting to abortion. We expect that those who experience post-abortion complications get humane, compassionate and non-judgmental care. Ordinary criminals suffering from illness or in danger of death unquestionably get medical attention—why should women threatened with post-abortion complications not get the same treatment?

It is clear that the lives of women and the future of their families—especially those who are poor—are at stake with the continued delay of the RH Bill.

The proposed law states clearly that reproductive choices of women will be respected, including the decision to have or not have children, and the number and timing of childbirths.

We salute legislators who consistently support and fight for the interests of women, especially the poor. We salute you because you have not become blind, deaf and inured to the realities of women and poor people.

We have suffered for too long now. Enough of the delays! Pass the Reproductive Health Bill now!

- Pinagsamang Lakas ng Kababaihan at Kabataan (PiLaKK)