Babe's Eye View article

It looks like GMA is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea on the issue of reproductive health. There’s the growing concern about the food crisis and the incessant surge in oil prices which is almost beyond the reach of the poor. On the other hand, the population is growing at a rate that will soon outpace the country’s capacity to produce food and meet the needs of an increasing number of people, considering that the population has been growing at an average of 2-3 percent over the last 10 years.

The 7.3 percent GDP growth rate last year has been all but eroded by the economic crisis the country is experiencing. This is a big dilemma that will affect the poor majority, specifically the 40 percent living below the poverty line. When Congress resumes, a reproductive health and population management bill is scheduled for a second reading—which the Catholic Church strongly opposes.

Being a devout Catholic, GMA is caught in a bind—“damned if you do, damned if you don’t”—with increasing pressure from pro-population management advocates to come out with a stronger population policy. Last year, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 9 out of 10 Filipinos want more access to reproductive health programs.

On the other hand, the Church is giving implicit political signals, saying they will refuse communion to legislators supporting the reproductive health bill. A Quezon City councilor who authored a reproductive health measure was forced to transfer his wedding to Batangas because of the threat to deny him communion. The Church and the State are supposed to be separate entities, but reality dictates otherwise since government affairs have been largely influenced by Church policies and precepts.

At a private dinner in Malacañang hosted by the President for the Manila Overseas Press Club board, she claims she was able to bring down the population growth rate to 2.04 percent. Although she agrees about the need for more information on reproductive health, she is firm on her stand about natural family planning.

Population management advocates explain that contrary to perception, they are also pro-life. More than that, they are “pro-quality life,” meaning Filipinos must also consider the quality of life their children will have. Their aim is to protect the health of women and prevent abortions. There are reportedly 470,000 cases of abortion every year due to unwanted pregnancies, and everyday 10 women die of complications due to lack of maternal care throughout pregnancy and after childbirth.

Contrary to allegations, reproductive health proponents say they do not advocate abortion at all. This was emphasized by Rep. Satur Ocampo whom I talked with the other day. The proposed bill does not seek to legalize abortion but simply sets a national policy and seeks to provide more access to other family planning methods aside from the natural methods sanctioned by the Church. Of course, Satur is also pushing for government to allocate money for contraceptive pills and condoms—to which the Church is totally against.

Somewhere along the line, we’re hoping for a middle ground on the issue. As Catholics, we are blessed by our faith, yet we must be allowed to exercise our discernment and consider what our conscience dictates as the right thing to do. Naturally, that goes without saying that abortion—which in this instance means the termination of an existing pregnancy—is not an option at all since everyone agrees it is immoral and illegal.

Population management is really a major problem that’s driving a wedge between the Church and government. Even among her allies, there are opposing sides with Joey Salceda strongly advocating for population management while Lito Atienza is pushing his pro-life stance. Brother Mike Velarde who is an influential figure is also pro-life, believing in the stand of the Church that only natural methods are acceptable.

FVR with his usual candor went on a high horse, criticizing GMA for flip-flopping in her population management policy. He can very well say that being a Protestant, having been successful with his population management policy during his term together with Johnny Flavier. And this was continued by Johnny’s friend, my brother Dr. Quasi Romualdez, during the time of Joseph Estrada.

Despite the very strong pressure government is facing, there’s no indication GMA is about to do a Henry VIII and declare herself the head of the Philippine Church, like Henry VIII did when he seceded from the Catholic faith and declared himself the head of the Church of England because the pope refused to grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. GMA will toe the Church line not only because she is a devout Catholic but because she owes the Church for helping her get into power and continually supporting her.

But let’s face it—the population issue is a bigger problem today and is even more pronounced than it ever was with the current oil and food crisis, with more people joining the ranks of the poor. Many are complaining they are already eating less but are being forced to cut down even more due to the crisis.

I had breakfast with US Ambassador Kristie Kenney the other day and she confirmed that the US is concerned about the impact of the food crisis on countries like the Philippines. Bush has pledged to help the country, and during GMA’s working visit to the US, a $216-million food security agreement was sealed.

By 2013, there will be 100 million Filipinos, and there’s no question the population issue has to be resolved. We can only hope and “pray” that instead of a collision course—both Church and State will meet halfway and take the path towards a “coalition course.”