Pass the RH Bill Now (Statement of individual faculty of the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University)

Posted Wed, 03/23/2011
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Statement of individual faculty of the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University in support of HB 4244, “An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development, and for Other Purposes”

We, the undersigned faculty of the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University, in our individual capacities as educators and scholars from various academic disciplines, declare our strong support for the consolidated reproductive health bill (House Bill 4244) and urge its immediate passage in Congress. We issue this statement because we see the need for our active engagement in social issues, believing as we do that the academe has a distinct role to play in achieving social justice and national development. 

We have read House Bill 4244 on “Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development” currently filed in the House of Representatives and have kept abreast of the ongoing debates. Many of us have been working on reproductive health and its related issues, some of us for decades. We have undertaken our own studies (literature reviews and analysis, policy studies, empirical researches, etc.) on reproductive health. Many of us have also participated in legislative processes such as public hearings and technical working groups.

Our studied and collective opinion is that House Bill 4244 is a vital piece of legislation. Its passage will mandate policies which will save women’s and men’s lives, improve infant survival, enhance young people’s health and well-being, and enable couples and individuals to make responsible decisions in planning their families. We also endorse this bill as a necessary element to achieve the goals of social equity, poverty reduction, and national development. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that these goals can be achieved without resorting to population control. Our reading of HB 4244 is that it is not a population control bill, nor does it violate any other rights and freedoms. HB 4244 in fact promotes the sexual and reproductive rights, the right to health, and the right to informed decision making of all Filipinos but especially the poor, in fulfillment of the provisions of our Constitution and our obligations under international covenants. The passage of a national and comprehensive law will also guarantee budgetary support from the national government for reproductive health initiatives and ensure their implementation by local government units, regardless of the vagaries of national and local leadership.

We are issuing this statement because we wish to support those legislators who rely on scientific evidence when they craft legislative proposals or decide how to vote. Their endorsement of HB 4244 is an encouraging example of progressive legislation that is necessary to national development.

In this light, we feel the need to comment on the way science has been misused by those who oppose this bill. We have seen the misrepresentation of easily verifiable information, such as the actual text of the proposed bill. We have witnessed the misuse of outdated studies, data that have already been disproven, or studies that cannot be replicated to support what are merely ideological positions. One example that is particularly dangerous is the lie that condoms do not protect against sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. There have also been those who misrepresent extremist positions as the prevailing consensus of the scientific community. This evidence-based consensus, however, does support the provision of reproductive health services that include contraceptive access and sexuality education. It also supports the services for adolescents and children that HB 4244 mandates. 

We are concerned over reports that teachers offer incentives, such as bonus points, for students to make anti-RH statements or engage in anti-RH activities. We welcome disparate opinions as necessary to the vitality of any scholarly community. Thus, we believe that it is an abuse of our role as value formators to dictate the political actions of our students in this way. We denounce any such violations of our duties to inculcate critical thinking and respect our students’ right to their own opinions. We denounce this, regardless of whether the teacher is for or against the RH Bill.

We caution our people to be more critical of the data and opinions presented to them and find out the truth for themselves. We are heartened by polls that show that most Filipinos know of the bill and support it, and in so doing have shown their capacity for enlightened citizenship.

Together with the legislators who have proven themselves worthy of their mandate by their support for the bill, we reiterate our full and unequivocal endorsement of HB 4244 and call for its immediate enactment into law.

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Signed: Individual faculty of the University of the Philippines (23 March 2011)

Sylvia Estrada Claudio, MD, Director, Center for Women’s Studies, and Professor, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman

Odine de Guzman, Deputy Director for Research and Publication, Center for Women’s Studies, and Associate Professor, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman

Maria Theresa D. Ujano-Batangan, Deputy Director for Training and Outreach, Center for Women’s Studies, and Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Victor J. Paz, Professor and Director, Archaeological Studies Program, UP Diliman

Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Professor, Asian Center, and former Director, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman

Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Professor of Asian Studies, Asian Center, UP Diliman

Rene Eleazar Ofreneo, Director, Center for Labor Justice (CLJ), Professor and former Dean, School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR), UP Diliman

Rosario Cruz-Lucero, Professor, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman

Teresita G. Maceda, Professor, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman

Dina S. Ocampo, Professor and Dean, College of Education, UP Diliman

Elizabeth Aguiling-Pangalanan, Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman

Gigo A. Alampay, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman

Carolina S. Ruiz Austria, Senior Lecturer (on study leave), College of Law, UP Diliman

Gwen G. de Vera, Assistant Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman

Robert N. Dio, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman

Dante B. Gatmaytan, Associate Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman

Ibarra M. Gutierrez III, Associate Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman

Marvic F. Leonen, Professor and Dean, College of Law, UP Diliman

Raul C. Pangalanan, former Dean and Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman

Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr., Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman

Arno V. Sanidad, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman

Evalyn G. Ursua, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman

Susan D. Villanueva, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman

Clarissa C. David, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Shirley P. Evidente, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Joanna Eunice V. Parungao, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Elena E. Pernia, Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Randy Jay Solis, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Rolando B. Tolentino, Professor and Dean, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Roxanne B. Cipriano, Instructor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Archie Lawrence P. Geneta, Instructor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Jose R. Lacson, Jr., Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Florinda D.F. Mateo, Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Lourdes M. Portus, Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Violeta A. Umali, Associate Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Elizabeth L. Enriquez, Professor, Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Libay Linsangan Cantor, Assistant Professor, Film Institute, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman

Maria Lourdes T. Camagay, Professor, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman

Maria Cecilia G. Conaco, Professor, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman

Michael L. Tan, Professor and Dean, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman

Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, Professor and Dean, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Amaryllis T. Torres, former Dean and Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Rosario de Santos Del Rosario, Professor Emeritus, College of Social Work and Community Development and Center for International Studies, UP Diliman

Ma. Theresa V. Tungapalan, Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Maureen C. Pagaduan, Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Mary Lou L. Alcid, Associate Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Aleli B. Bawagan, Associate Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Roselle Leah K. Rivera, Professor and Chair, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Jeremias T. Leones, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Maria Linnea Villarosa, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Teresita V. Barrameda, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Yolanda G. Ealdama, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Rainier V. Almazan, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Rosalie T. Quilicol, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Thelma B. Magcuro, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

John Erwin S. Banez, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Anna Liza R. Magno, Senior Lecturer, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Justin V. Nicolas, Instructor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Romano Antonio V. Wamil, Instructor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Nathalie A. Verceles, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman

Romy Fay V. Gumba, Instructor, Department of Art Studies, UP Diliman

Conchitina Cruz, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Comparative Literature, UP Diliman

Thelma B. Kintanar, Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature, UP Diliman

Bienvenido Lumbera, Professor Emeritus, Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, UP Diliman, and National Artist for Literature

Alwin C. Aguirre, Assistant Professor, Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, UP Diliman

Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of History, UP Diliman

Ma. Serena I. Diokno, Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman

Gil G. Gotianco, Jr., Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman

Dedina A. Lapar, Associate Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman

Ma. Mercedes G. Planta, Associate Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman

Walter M. Robles, Assistant Professor, Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, UP Diliman

Louward Allen M. Zubiri, Lecturer, Department of Linguistics, UP Diliman

Maria Theresa T. Payongayong, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, UP Diliman

Teresa Encarnacion Tadem, Professor, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman

Cherrie Joy F. Billedo, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Annalyn De Guzman Capulong, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Jose Antonio R. Clemente, Instructor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Aurora Odette Corpuz-Mendoza, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Christine Ann A. De Villa, Instructor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

John Hudson Go, Instructor IV, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Mita Jimenez, Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Eric Julian D. Manalastas, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Michelle G. Ong, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Diwa Malaya A. Quiñones, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Divine Love A. Salvador, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Christie P. Sio, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Beatriz A. Torre, Instructor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Elizabeth R. Ventura, Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman

Rizza Kaye C. Caces, Instructor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman

Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon Bautista, Professor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman

Laura L. Samson, Professor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman

Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, Professor and Director, Institute of Mathematics, University of the Philippines

Fidel R. Nemenzo, Professor, Institute of Mathematics, UP Diliman

Marian P. Roque, Professor, Institute of Mathematics, UP Diliman

Erwin A. Alampay, Associate Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman

Edna E. A. Co, Professor and Dean, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman

Alvic M. Padilla, Assistant Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman

Maria Victoria R. Raquiza, Assistant Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman

Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman, and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, UP Open University

Alyssa Peleo-Alampay, Professor, National Institute of Geological Sciences, UP Diliman

Josefina V. Cabigon, Professor, Population Institute, UP Diliman

Maria Joy V. Abrenica, Associate Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Stella Alabastro-Quimbo, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Rupert P. Alonzo, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Agustin L. Arcenas, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Arsenia M. Balisacan, Professor and Dean, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Dante B. Canlas, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Joseph J. Capuno, Associate Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Ramon L. Clarete, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Solita Collas-Monsod, Professor Emeritus, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Rolando A. Danao, Professor Emeritus, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Emmanuel S. de Dios, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Benjamin E. Diokno, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Emmanuel F. Esguerra, Associate Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Raul V. Fabella, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Teresa J. Ho, Professorial Lecturer, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Maria Nimfa M. Mendoza, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Toby Melissa C. Monsod, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Ernesto M. Pernia, Professorial Lecturer, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Gerardo P. Sicat, Professor Emeritus, School of Economics, UP Diliman

Dennis Claire S. Mapa, Associate Professor, School of Statistics, UP Diliman

Adonis Ramy L. Elumbre, Instructor, Department of History and Philosophy, UP Baguio

Maria Reina Boro-Magbanua, Assistant Professor, Department of History, UP Los Baños

Maria Helen F. Dayo, Director, Gender Center, UP Los Baños

Michael David T. Lopez, Instructor, Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baños

Reynaldo H. Imperial, Centennial Professor and Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila

Nymia Pimentel Simbulan, Director, Office of Student Affairs, UP Manila

Cecilia A. Jimeno, MD, Associate Professor, College of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, UP Manila; Associate Professor, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU

Maria Julieta V. Germar, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UP Manila

Ricardo M. Manalastas, Jr., MD, Professor, College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UP Manila

Ma. Theresa L. de Villa, Professor of Education, UP Integrated School, College of Education, UP Diliman; Dean, Faculty of Education, UP Open University

Diego Silang S. Maranan, Instructor, Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, UP Open University

Randy Madrid, University Research Associate 2, Center for Western Visayas Studies, UP Visayas

Signed: Individual faculty of the Ateneo de Manila University (23 March 2011)

Marita Castro Guevara, Assistant Professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, ADMU

Atty. Ray Paolo J. Santiago, Deputy Executive Director, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Ateneo Law School, ADMU

Atty. Amparita S. Sta. Maria, Director for Women and Migrants Desk, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Ateneo Law School, ADMU

Joy G. Aceron, Program Director, Ateneo School of Government, ADMU

Raymundo S. Baquiran, MD, MPH, Associate Professor and Coordinator for Public Health, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU

Marthony P. Basco, MD, MPH, Lecturer, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU

Manuel D. Cuenca, Jr., MD, DBPA, Asst. Professor and Asst. Year Level 6 Coordinator, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU

Maria Cleofe Gettie C. Sandoval, JD, Lecturer, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU

Fernando T. Aldaba, Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU

Germelino M. Bautista, Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU

Edsel L. Beja, Jr., Associate Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU

Aleta C. Domdom, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU

Jamil Paolo S. Francisco, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU

Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr., Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU

Marilou A. Perez, Instructor, Department of Economics, ADMU

Joselito T. Sescon, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU

Patrick Gerard C. Simon-King, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU

Philip Arnold P. Tuaño, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU

Alexis A. L. Abola, Instructor, Department of English, ADMU

Roy Tristan B. Agustin, Assistant Instructor, Department of English, ADMU

Ana Marie O. Fernandez, Assistant Professor, Department of English, and Executive Director, Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching, ADMU

Ada Javellana Loredo, Assistant Professor, Department of English, ADMU

Cynthia Nograles Lumbera, Assistant Professor (retired), Department of English, ADMU

Isabel Pefianco Martin, Associate Professor, Department of English, ADMU

Lara Tajonera-Mendoza, Instructor, Department of English, ADMU

Marianne Rachel G. Perfecto, Assistant Professor, Department of English, ADMU

Danilo Francisco M. Reyes, Assisant Professor, Department of English, ADMU

Sandra Nicole C. Roldan, Instructor, Department of English, ADMU

Louie Jon A. Sanchez, Lecturer, Department of English, ADMU

Maria Teresa Pineda Tinio, Assistant Professor, Department of English, ADMU

Nastasia Tysmans, Lecturer, European Studies Program, ADMU

Gary C. Devilles, Assistant Professor, Kagawaran ng Filipino, ADMU

Yolando B. Jamendang, Jr., Kagawaran ng Filipino, ADMU

Benjo A. Delarmente, MD, Lecturer, Health Sciences Program, ADMU

Norman Dennis E. Marquez, MD, Director, Health Sciences Program, ADMU

Karl Ian Uy Cheng Chua, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU

Lisandro E. Claudio, Lecturer (on study leave), Department of History, ADMU

Randolph Joseph H. de Jesus, Lecturer, Department of History, ADMU

Francis A. Gealogo, Associate Professor, Department of History, ADMU

Brian Paul A. Giron, Lecturer, Department of History, ADMU

Olivia Anne M. Habana, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU

Meynardo P. Mendoza, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU

Aaron Rom O. Moralina, Department of History, ADMU

Isabel Consuelo A. Nazareno, Instructor, Department of History, ADMU

Michael D. Pante, Assistant Instructor, Department of History, ADMU

Jose Ma. Edito Kalaw Tirol, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU

Atty. Arnold F. De Vera, Lecturer, Department of Marketing and Law, ADMU, and Executive Director, Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN)

Remmon E. Barbaza, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU

Mark Joseph T. Calano, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU

Manuel B. Dy, Jr., Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU

Geoffrey A. Guevara, Instructor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU

Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy, ADMU

Jean Emily P. Tan, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU

John Carlo P. Uy, Assistant Instructor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU

Carmel Veloso Abao, Instructor, Department of Political Science, ADMU

Roberto Manuel G. Benedicto, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, ADMU

Ma. Elissa Jayme Lao, Instructor, Department of Political Science, ADMU

Jennifer Santiago Oreta, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, ADMU

Alma Maria Ocampo Salvador, Assistant Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, ADMU

Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, ADMU

Liane Peña Alampay, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Ma. Brenda S. Batistiana, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Nico A. Canoy, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Ma. Regina M. Hechanova, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Jocelyn M. Mayoralgo-Nolasco, Instructor, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Cristina Jayme Montiel, Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Mira Alexis P. Ofreneo, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Josephine P. Perez, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Ma. Margarita A. Ramos, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Mendiola Teng-Calleja, Instructor, Department of Psychology, ADMU

Ricardo G. Abad, Professor, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU

Leslie Advincula Lopez, Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU

Elizabeth Uy Eviota, Professorial Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU

Nota F. Magno, Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU

Marcia Czarina Corazon M. Medina, Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU

Emma E. Porio, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU

Roberto O. Guevara, Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, ADMU

Michael J. Liberatore, Instructor, Department of Theology, ADMU

Ruben C. Mendoza, Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, ADMU

Raul Socrates C. Banzuela, Lecturer, Development Studies Program, ADMU

Mariel Vincent A. Rapisura, Lecturer, Development Studies Program, ADMU

Edwin M. Salonga, Lecturer, Development Studies Program, ADMU, and

Mary Racelis, Research Scientist, Institute of Philippine Culture, ADMU

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