Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Philippine contraceptive campaign seeks change
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Philippine contraceptive campaign seeks change
AFP - 1 hour 10 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
Philippine contraceptive campaign seeks change
MANILA (AFP) - – In the four months since Benigno Aquino became president of the Philippines, the impoverished country's population has grown by about 600,000 -- the fastest rate of increase in Southeast Asia.
Amid the patter of many tiny new feet, calls from pro-birth control campaigners are growing louder as they urge a change in the government's approach to contraception.
Tight controls have for years hampered efforts by health agencies to distribute artificial contraceptives in the devoutly Catholic country, even as its population has boomed to 94 million.
Campaigners are now pushing for Congress to finally pass a reproductive health bill which would oblige the government to fund mass contraception programmes.
The bill, introduced in July, is the fifth attempt by family planning advocates since 1998 to change the Philippines' legal framework on the issue.
They hope it will succeed this time amid a new political energy following elections in May that saw contrac eption advocate Aquino rise to power.
"I think (the bill) has a greater chance of being passed. Many co-authors of the bill have been re-elected and some of its more vociferous opponents lost in the election," said lawmaker Edcel Lagman.
Until now, argues Lagman, there has simply not been the political leadership needed to guide the contentious bill through a deeply divided Congress.
The pro-contraception lobby -- mostly women's rights groups and non-governmental organisations -- has garnered a colourful and influential cast of supporters in its latest effort to have it passed.
Filipino activist and blogger Carlos Celdran last month became a high-profile addition when he heckled churchmen in Manila Cathedral over their opposition to contraceptives -- and was arrested.
But campaigners' hopes rest mainly with 50-year-old bachelor president Aquino who, although a Catholic, has said repeatedly in recent months the poor should have access to contraceptives.
"Benigno Aquino is very popular and the Catholic Church doesn't have much influence on him," said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Electoral Reform think-tank.
"If the Church has a position not supported by the population it will be hard to maintain, and I think public opinion is supportive of reproductive health."
Nevertheless, Aquino has sought to placate the Catholic Church, meeting behind closed doors with leading bishops to try to find common ground.
The Church, to which 80 percent of the population belong and which has long wielded strong political influence, has shown it is in no mood to compromise.
It has pledged its support for protests by hardline lay members against any moves to provide wide-scale access to contraceptives, while some bishops have threatened Aquino with excommunication.
"(The bill) is masquerading as a health bill but it is actually a handful of harm," said Josephine Imbong, a prominent pro-Church lawyer and mother-of-eight, voicing the feelings of many against the proposed legislation.
"It suppresses fertility, which is not a disease, and it devalues spousal rights."
Many pro-contraception advocates say popular opinion is on their side, pointing to a 2008 nationwide survey that showed 63 percent of respondents in favour of the government subsidising contraception.
They also point to the dire health consequences of restricting access to contraceptives among the poor in a country where a third of the population lives on less than one dollar a day, according to the United Nations.
By comparison with many of its regional neighbours, the rate of HIV infection in the Philippines is low.
Nevertheless the deadly virus is spreading, with the latest World Health Organization data showing infections more than doubled from about 4,000 to 8,300 between 2003 and 2007 -- although these figures are believed to be under-reported.
And although abortions are illegal, dangerous "back street" operations are common.
About 1,000 women die annually in the Philippines through abortion-related complications, according to the Guttmacher Institute health organisation.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Bombing legacy major challenge for Laos: president AFP - Tuesday, November 9
Indonesia awaits Obama homecoming AFP - 50 minutes ago
Fears for missing children in Indonesia volcano chaos AFP - 1 hour 5 minutes ago
Philippine contraceptive campaign seeks change AFP - 1 hour 10 minutes ago
Beatles set to eclipse Hitler at NZealand autograph auction AFP - 1 hour 31 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Bush defends legacy in new book
BP did not put profit before safety on Gulf well: probe
Rolls-Royce makes 'progress' on cause of A380 engine failure
Gold smashes through 1,400-dollar mark for first time
Sniffer 'hero rats' saving lives in minefields and labs
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Scientists turn skin into blood
Rolls-Royce makes 'progress' on cause of A380 engine failure
Rescued Chilean miner shows 'yes you can' in NYC Marathon
Pamela Anderson calls out Ultra-Orthodox men on fur hats
Democracy icon Suu Kyi locked up for rare Myanmar vote
More Most Viewed »
Alcohol more harmful than heroin, crack cocaine: study
Toddler survives seven-floor fall in France
Spectacular unknown species found in Amazon
Ancient galaxy is more than 13 billion light years away
Moon's 'treasure chest' includes silver
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Tuesday, 9 November 2010 Car bomb kills 12 in Iraq's oil city Basra
Journalist's attackers will be punished: Medvedev
US-TECH Summary
Car bombs kill 15, including Iranians, in Iraq
Rolls-Royce makes 'progress' on cause of A380 engine failure
Gold smashes through 1,400-dollar mark for first time
UK navy's website hacked: Ministry of Defense
Israel plans 1,300 homes in Arab East Jerusalem
Sweden opens probe of U.S. embassy surveillance
|
Two Nigeria oil rig hostages 'believed to be French'
Sniffer 'hero rats' saving lives in minefields and labs
Police Investigate Laser Pointed At Airplane
Gates To Taliban: U.S. May Not Leave Afghanistan Until 2014
Iraq leaders fail to resolve political deadlock
Nokia takes back control of Symbian software
Deadly clashes as Morocco storms Western Sahara camp
|
Geithner says chances of double-dip receding
German police, activists gear up for nuclear showdown
Jury In Deadly Home Invasion Sentences Conn. Man to Death
Car bombs in Shiite south Iraq kill at least 28
Study: Two Out of Five Drivers Admit to Falling Asleep While Driving
Threat of action needed to stop Iran nukes: Israel
|
French companies attack Google ads rules
Petraeus 'draws up Afghan transition timetable'
Teen Beaten To Death At Party
Chrysler 3Q Better Than Expected
Amazon swipes up Diapers.com
Iraqi leaders start talks to end political impasse
Storm, cholera tolls rise, but Haiti vote still on
|
Rascal Flatts Launching New Album "Nothing Like This"
New Web browser launches with backing from Netscape pioneer
Former House Leader Tom DeLay's Trial In Second Week
Ericsson announces 4G telecom contract in Denmark
Two Chile miners trapped underground: authorities
|
Oracle CEO to take stand in high-profile SAP trial
Britain's queen wins 60,000 fans on Facebook debut
Nokia takes back control of Symbian software
Harbhajan, Laxman star in drawn first NZ Test
U.S. expands cargo security ban in wake of bomb plot
Obama criticises India's silence on Myanmar
Radical Yemeni cleric calls for 'murder of Americans'
West dismisses Myanmar poll
Amanda Knox indicted for slander in Italy
End nears for blockbuster Harry Potter film series
Thousands flee Myanmar clashes after election
Facebook grabs bigger slice of display ad pie
|
15,000 refugees flee Myanmar post-vote fighting
Wall Street tech workers expect higher bonuses
Nokia takes back control of Symbian software
|
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates end up; rupee weakens
Oracle's Ellison accuses SAP of $4 billion theft
|
China, Britain sign deals before Cameron visit
Pakistan c.bank raises 52 bln rupees from Islamic bond
Asian shares mostly up on US jobs data, stimulus
PREVIEW-Pakistan's Oct CPI seen up 16.38 pct
New Michael Jackson single prompts more controversy
|
Lindsay Lohan wants to open own rehab centers, says mom
|
NATO says two soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Activists in Germany block nuclear waste convoy
Myanmar pro-democracy parties say lost election
|
Training Afghanistan's police seen as key to future
Obama heads to Indonesia, finally
|
AOL taps BofA to explore Yahoo deal: sources
Bush defends legacy in new book
Russian leader vows to punish reporter's assailants
35 Iraqis hurt in Baghdad church attack arrive in France
Facebook grabs bigger slice of display ad pie
BP did not put profit before safety on Gulf well: probe
China stops blocking harsh North Korea report: U.N. envoys
|
U.S. Intelligence Review Confirms Optimum Headley Information Sharing With India
Web tool aims to prevent day-after Facebook regrets
Israel plans 1,300 homes in Arab East Jerusalem
|
Cleric From Yemen Calls Supporters To Kill Americans In Latest Video
Dot-com deja vu muddies the rush for rare earths
Incoming small town Mexico mayor kidnapped, killed
|
Toner, Ink Cartridges Banned On U.S. Passenger Planes
Local government official killed in Afghanistan
Wall Street Retreats As Investors Turn To Gold
Activision Blizzard shares rise before game launch
Iran slams U.N. nuclear chief, denies keeping secrets
Afghans more upbeat but corruption worse: survey
|
FBI Rescues 23 Child Prostitutes In Puget Sound
Huffington Post launching 'Divorce' section
Fans, Family Say Michael Jackson Isnt Singing On Controversial New Single Breaking News
Peru court grants parole to U.S. citizen Berenson
|
New Air Cargo Security Measures Begin Worldwide After Bomb Threats
Wall Street tech workers expect higher bonuses: survey
Obama backs India's quest for U.N. permanent seat
|
US e-book sales near one billion dollars in 2010: Forrester
Iran slams U.N. nuclear chief, denies keeping secrets
|
Fears for missing children in Indonesia volcano chaos
Samsung hits 3 million Galaxy S U.S. shipments
Philippine contraceptive campaign seeks change
Warner Bros buys Harry Potter studio
Indonesia awaits Obama homecoming
Beatles set to eclipse Hitler at NZealand autograph auction
Nobel winner's lawyer says barred from leaving China
China stops blocking harsh North Korea report
Myanmar army-backed party 'wins 80 percent of seats'
US actor Martin Sheen retraces roots in Spain, Ireland
Obama heads to Indonesia, finally
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
British PM in China on hunt for lucrative trade deals
Conan O'Brien returns to TV in downsized role
Passenger train derails in Singapore
Sarah Palin overshadows Alaska in reality series
Sikhs outraged at US airport turban searches
Private equity group eyeing bid to buy Yahoo: source
|
Conan O'Brien's late-night return: What to expect
AOL taps BofA to explore Yahoo deal: sources
|
Alibaba's Ma seeking funds to buy back Yahoo stake
|
Michael Jackson kids reminisce about their normal dad
Warner Bros buys Harry Potter studio
SAP grills Oracle as Apotheker absent from trial
|
Michael Jackson single goes online, but is it him?
FACTBOX-The main issues blocking US-South Korea FTA
Samsung hits 3 million Galaxy S U.S. shipments
|
Seoul shares up 0.3 pct on KT, Samsung Fine Chem
Dot-com deja vu muddies the rush for rare earths
|
Top US official expects G20 trade talks progress
Activision Blizzard shares rise before game launch
|
Migrant workers send 325 bln dlrs home: WBank
Japan's current account surplus widens sharply
Protectionism is world economy's key 'danger': Merkel
British PM on trade-boosting visit to China
Seoul shares flat; KT, shipyards advance
S.Korea bonds fall early, eyes on producer prices
Seoul shares open flat as autos, banks slip
Alibaba's Ma seeking funds to buy back Yahoo stake
Amazon increases revenue split for papers, magazines
Conan O'Brien returns to TV in downsized role
|
Michael Jackson kids reminisce about their normal dad
|
Samsung hits 3 million Galaxy S U.S. shipments
Sarah Palin overshadows Alaska in reality series
|
Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan
New drugs, materials unveiled at nanotech conference
Greek police say no bomb in Hungary embassy package
|
Vodafone reports profit up 56.5%, lifts forecast
Obama says U.S. earnest, reaching out to Muslim world
|
Barclays bank profits slump in third quarter
MI Assistant Attorney General Fired For Harassing Gay Student
Austrian Fritzl's house should be destroyed: judge
|
Miller "Optimistic" As Alaska Begins Counting Write-In Ballots
U.S. Takes Shine Off Support For India's UN Council Seat
Sri Lanka launches local pornstar manhunt
|
Finance ministry served Nazi machine: historian
|
Engine Fire Cripples Carnival Cruise Ship In Pacific
Nancy O'Dell Named Mary Hart's Replacement On "Entertainment Tonight"
China asks Japan not to attend Nobel peace award
|
Silent Heart Disease May Precede Cognitive Decline
Tokyo 'seizes Google user records' over video leak
Pakistan wicket-keeper Haider retires after threats
China asks Japan not to attend Nobel peace award
China crash against rivals Japan in Asian Games
Obama's schedule in Indonesia
Did Ms Norway lose because of Chinese rage over the Nobel Prize?
John Lennon jacket, Bubbles chimp suit go to auction
Sharp and Fujitsu unveil 11 new Symbian phones
|
Soeharto 'will not be a hero this year'
Chip sector hopes for normality after end of boom
|
College dropout wins millions at poker championship
Oxfam urges G20 leaders on poor nation aid
"War for Late Night" lifts lid on NBC turmoil
Sands' Macau casino: quarterly profit doubled
Olbermann says he was suspended without hearing
Gwyneth Paltrow: actress, singer, southern farmer?
ICBC expanding in Europe, Middle East
Dot-com deja vu muddies the rush for rare earths
|
Hadron Collider Creates 10 Trillion Degrees Heat
Gwyneth Paltrow: actress, singer, southern farmer?
|
John Lennon jacket, Bubbles chimp suit go to auction
|
Liam Gallagher's new band gives away single
|
MSNBC brings back suspended anchor Keith Olbermann
|
War for Late Night lifts lid on NBC turmoil
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights