School of Economics Advocates of UP, hopeful of RH Bill OK in next Congress

From inquirer.net

Pending in Congress for about a decade now, RH bill reached the period of debate in the lower chamber but was sidelined due to pressures from the Catholic Church. It proposes to promote both artificial and natural means of family planning as part of moves to curb the ballooning population and to promote maternal and child health.

Dr. Ernesto Pernia of the University of the Philippines School of Economic and trustee of the The Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc., underscored the need for the country to have a population management policy.

He said family planning should not be left solely in the hands of the couple, but that government intervention is needed, especially on the supply side.

I'm not happy with the statement that it should be left to the couple's choice. On the demand side, it's okay, leave it to the couples, but the problem is if there's no supply in terms of contraceptives and other commodities to practice family planning, wala rin mangyayari [nothing will happen], he said.

From: http://ping.fm/sk16H