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The
policy will provide full government funding for contraceptives, tubal ligations
and vasectomies, thereby forcing Catholic Filipino taxpayers to fund practices
which violate their faith and religious beliefs. The Two Child Policy also endangers the religious freedom
and right to free speech of priests, religious, teachers and schools. According to the policy’s mandatory
sexual education provision, all schools – public and private – will be forced
to teach students about contraception, abortion, reproductive rights, and
reproduction-related “attitudes, beliefs and values” according to a
government-created curriculum.
Speaking about essentially identical provisions in a previous bill,
Cardinal Vidal of Cebu stated that, if such a policy were to go into effect,
many of his priests would have to go to jail.
The
proposed legislation also violates the rights of conscience of health care
professionals and employers.
According to this policy, public general hospitals and health care
professionals will be forced to provide reproductive services – including
contraception, sterilization, in vitro fertilization, and abortions for abused
minors – upon demand. If health
care professionals refuse to provide these services on grounds of conscience or
morals, they must refer the patient to another provider who will perform the
service. However, if there is no
such provider “conveniently accessible” at the time of demand, the health care
professional must perform what is asked, or else go to jail. In addition, the Two Child Policy
requires certain employers to supply their employees with contraceptives, no
exceptions allowed.
The
policy also mandates that all reproductive services, devices and drugs be
provided at no cost to indigent Filipinos. It is evident that the poor of the Philippines is the
primary target of the Two Child Policy’s population control agenda. The language of the bill clearly
demonstrates the policy’s eugenic purpose, a purpose which is repulsive to the
very notion of human rights and human dignity.
The
policy presents a false solution to concerns regarding food shortages and
population growth. With recent
studies showing that the population growth in the Philippines has dropped
continuously and significantly over the last decades, there is no need for a
two-child policy to control population growth in the Philippines. In addition, the Food and Agriculture
Organization has confirmed that the Philippines has dramatically increased its
food supply in the past 60 years and has enough food to supply each Filipino
with a healthy diet. Education and
the creation of better distribution systems – not a Two-Child Policy – will
help to strengthen the Filipino people and economy.
In conclusion, the Two Child
Policy is an oppressive piece of legislation that endangers the most basic
Filipino rights. It is imperative
that public awareness be brought to the dangers posed by this policy, and that
those in leadership positions in the Philippines take a stand against the
passage of this proposed legislation.
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