Protests planned vs inclusion of RH bill as 'priority measure'

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said protests are being planned against the Aquino's government's inclusion of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill as a "priority measure." In a CBCP news release, Archdiocese Family and Life Ministry head Father Joel Jason expressed dismay over the Aquino administration’s decision to give priority to the passage of the RH bill. Some Filipino lawmakers on August 16 lauded the Aquino government's inclusion of the controversial RH bill on the list of priority measures in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Senior Deputy Majority Leader Janet Garin, one of the RH bill’s main authors, praised President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his “courage" in giving priority to the measure despite opposition from various groups, primarily the Roman Catholic Church. Jason said the Philippine government should learn from other countries that are now experiencing the negative impact of a curbed birth rate. According to a report of MarketWatch last year, Japan's birth rate, the lowest in the world, poses a demographic dilemma. In Japan, fewer children are born while older people are living longer. MarketWatch said "the good news about rising average life spans here is bad news for demographic planning, as few workers support more and more older folks." "Japan's average life expectancy at birth was the highest in the world in 2008, at 86.05 years for women and 79.29 years for men, government data show," according to MarketWatch. Top 10 countries with the lowest birth rates According to the website "aneki.com." the top 10 countries with the lowest birth rates (per 1,000 population) are: 1. Japan (7.87) 2. Germany (8.18) 3. Italy (8.36) 4. Austria (8.66) 5. Bosnia and Herzegovina (8.82) 6. Czech Republic (8.89) 7. Singapore (8.99) 8. Slovenia (8.99) 9. Lithuania (9.00) 10. Korea, South (9.09) Protests over the RH bill Meanwhile, in the Philippines, protests are being readied against the controversial bill, which is being opposed by the Catholic Church for promoting both artificial and natural means of family planning. The Catholic Church accepts only natural family planning (NFP) methods. In Bataan, Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos said they will also hold forums and seminars at the village level about the negative effects of the bill. “With this bill included in the 13 priority bills of President Aquino, we will have a diocesan-wide campaign against RH bill even if we have to go to Malacañang," Santos said over Church-run Radyo Veritas. Santos said Bataan Reps. Herminia Roman and Albert Garcia are supportive of the planned protests in the province against the bill. “We will definitely hold conferences, seminars and marches against the RH bill," Santos said, adding that their goal is to protect the sanctity of human life and the family. - VVP, GMA News