In an effort to raise awareness on reproductive health rights and
further secure public support for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill, members of Akbayan Party gave away free condoms to the public coinciding with this year's celebration of Valentine's Day.
In a statement, Akbayan Representative Kaka Bag-ao said her group is continuing an initiative set by the Department of Health (DoH) under then Secretary Esperanza Cabral, when it distributed condoms on Valentine's day last year as part of its campaign to curb the increasing HIV/AIDS cases in the country and to highlight its support for the proposed law on reproductive health.
"Love yourself. Love your partner. Love your family. Be safe. This is the message we want to convey to the public. The campaign to push for the passage of the RH bill is not only about securing and protecting our rights, it is also fundamentally about love," Bag-ao said.
"Kung mahal mo ang iyong pamilya o ang iyong karelasyon, importante ang pagkakaroon ng pinakamalawak na opsyon sa pagpaplano ng pamilya at kagyat na proteksyon sa mga sexually transmitted diseases," Bag-ao said.
Bag-ao also expressed disappointment with the decision of the current headship of the health department not to distribute condoms this yearwhich she said stemmed from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines's (CBCP) strong pressure for the department to abandon the condom-giving initiative.
"This is not just your usual everyday activity that you can easily defer. We are talking here of saving lives. We are talking of protecting our people. Kung ayaw nila gampanan ang kanilang trabaho sa publiko, kami na lang ang gagawa nito. Hence, it is incumbent on all RH advocatesto continue with this effort," Bag-ao said.
It was reported that a total of 174 new HIV cases were confirmed last December, the highest reported in a month since 1984. The DoH said a total of 1,591 positive cases were documented from January to December last year.
Bag-ao also disapproved of the statements issued by Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the CBCP's Episcopal Commission. Castro said the distribution of condom would only send the wrong signal to the public especially among the youth that it is alright to engage in early sexual intercourse as long as it is safe and protected.
"With all due respect to Fr. Castro, but I think he is grossly misinformed of the sexual behavior of our people. Even without condom distribution, the people are having sex. There is so much information about sex, but the organized dissemination of correct information is lacking. The policy does not promote sex; it promotes informed choices and decisions. The message we want to convey to the public is for them to protect themselves and be responsible," Bag-ao argued.
Meanwhile, former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros said the Church's assertion that condom distribution would lead to a rise in the number of HIV/AIDS -infected individuals is "absurd."
"It is precisely because of the lack of a comprehensive pro-active state measure that locates HIV/AIDS and other STDs in the broader context of sexual and reproductive health that HIV/AIDS cases increased. This is exactly why we need a comprehensive reproductive health education package, as stipulated in the RH bill," Hontiveros said.
Akbayan said that instead of calling for "civil disobedience" against the RH Bill, it would be better for the Catholic church hierarchy to rally the people to the cause of providing the public with the widest array of options, and spreading the correct information about sexuality and reproductive health.
"It is the Filipino people's right to make informed choices, and to have a healthy life.To oppose this using, if not abusing the right to civil disobedience is a disservice to the public. As such, we urge the Filipino people to demand the government to ensure that each and every citizen has access to information and material supplies that will protect these rights," Hontiveros concluded.
 |
 |
 |
