Montalvan

Base sa aking naintindihan,mahalaga talaga ang family planning sa atin dahil para hindi dumami ang mga malnurish child.At dapat din nating ipalaganap ang two child policy.Kaya dapat nating ipalaganap talaga ang anti-family growth at naniniwala na akong malaki ang maitutulong nito sa population issues natin ngayon na lalong lumalaki.Kaya magtulongan tayo upang ang bansa natin ay umunlad.Kaya panatilihin na pagandahin nasimang ulan.



JUNALYN C. ACTUB
IV-MASIGASIG

m reacksyon ( KATHLEEN INTING )

para sa akin mas bigyan pansin ng pamahalaan ang malaking pamilya upang mabawasan ang krisis sa ekonomiya ng bansa. At pati rin ang lumalalang malnutrisyon. Tumulong din sa mga oganisasyon pangkalusugan. Magbiga ng mga gamot na libre.

sang-ayon ako sa artikulong ito dahil mahalaga ang family planning dahil makakatulong ito sa patuloy na pag-taas ng populasyon sa pilipinas. Kung dadami ng dadami ang populasyon sa pilipinas mas lalong maghihirap ang mga tao sa pilipinas at mahihirapan din sila sa paghahanap ng trabaho at magiging malala ang krisis sa pilipinas. At para din maiiwasan ang aborsyon at malnutrisyon na isa sa mga pinakamalalang sitwasyon ngayon.

Reaksyon tungkol sa Montalvan

Sang ayon ako sa artikulo tungkol sa Montalvan. Mahalaga talaga na may "FAMILY PLANNING" upang maiwasan ang pagdami ng populasyon. Maganda rin yung "TWO CHILD POLICY" dahil makatutulong din ito sa pagdami ng populasyon. Maganda ang maidudulot kapag may wastong "Family Planning", hindi masyadong madami ang mga tao at hindi rin mahihirapan ang mga magulang sa pag budget nang kanilang pera dahil sapat lang ang kanilang pakakainin na mga anak. Maiiwasan na rin ang "MALNUTRISYON" dahil nakakain na ang mga bata nang wasto at nutritious na mga pagkain.

mingaw lageh ang payag?

post pud mo mga klasmeyts.. :P
~ tabi'2 ta ninyu dawe,,aw,,,

Malthus theory

I agree because I think this kind of agreement should be done through a plebiscite and various consultations with the Filipinos, both Muslims and Christians. The government should publish the whole agreement (nothing hidden) so the people can form their educated opinion on this very important matter. Congress, both houses, should approve this agreement too. The executive branch cannot do this by itself unless our country is no longer democratic.

PRESIDENT Arroyo’s tough defense of the expanded value-added tax (E-VAT) in her 8th State of the Nation Address is expected. The government’s varied programs on providing popular but band-aid solutions to rising fuel, power and food prices largely depends on it, thus she cannot compromise the future of the country, lest her administration which is facing a hard and uphill battle come national and local elections in 2010.

While the good news is that this fiscal policy was implemented at the time when single-digit inflation rate was recorded prior to the abnormal rise of fuel cost and the looming recession of the US economy. These have indeed helped government shore up the much needed money to finance ongoing programs and projects for the masses.

The bad news is that majority of the people can no longer afford to shell out the 12 percent VAT for basic goods and services. Even the lowly ants gather food during sunny days while taking a break when storms come. One needs not be a degree-holder of economics to know what is out there.

He based his theory on the population explosion that was already becoming evident in the 18th century, and argued that the number of people would increase faster than the food supply. Population would eventually reach a resource limit (overpopulation). Any further increase would result in a population crash, caused by famine, disease, or war. Malthus was not optimistic about the outcome and suggested that only ‘moral restraint’ (birth control) could prevent crisis. Recent famines in Ethiopia and other countries, where drought, civil war, and poverty have reduced agricultural output, might suggest that Malthus was correct. In the USA, the UK, and many other countries, the agrarian revolution boosted food production, and contraception led to a decline in birth rate; and in some countries population control policies have been introduced.

THATS ALL..THANK YOU..HEHEHE..:P

~ myron keith here for you to stay ~ :P :P :P :D

sang-ayon ako sa sex education dahil makakatulong ito upang maintindihan natin ang kahalagahan at dahilan kung bakit kailangan mag-sex. hindi ito dapat gawin ng mga menor de edad at wala pang basbas ng diyos. kailangan din tayong magkaroon ng "family planning" upang maiwasan ang pagdami ng populasyon.

We are all children of God created in his image and likeness. God gave us everything, the gift of himself his love, his life. For this generosity, God asks us only one thing in return to value the life he gave us and to nurture it that it may show his resplendent glory. A deep reverence for human life, especially for the life that is as yet unborn and utterly defenses less. The sanctuary that no man or woman may dare to violate.

The population control is not the solution to poverty of our country. There are still various natural resources that are abundant in our country that only needs to be developed we can sustain more than what we need by these resources. The life of the unborn child is not the solution to this problem but it only adds up to the problem because it can loss the basic value and dignity of oneself. Reproductive Health is just argon to deceive the people from its true purpose.

I am wondering why our government gives much attention on our population growth rather than the number one concept of the society now which is graft and corruption. Have they checked the rank where our country stands now? Why is it that they are not alarmed by it? It is a shameful label on or part. As far as I am concern it greatly affects the good image and credibility of our country. Whereas an increase in population means an increase in the work force of a country. It could even help the country especially now that some country need more work force in their peace in the sense that some portion of our population could be send income to our country.

To accept the Malthusian myth is just a way to mislead our people to the real cause of our economic downfall. Let us try to check the other areas of our government maybe there are many other important principles or hidden activities that lead to the downfall of our economy. And I am sure population boom will not be the issue.

Para sa akin,dapat natin ipalaganap ang two child policy para mabawasan ang populasyon sa ating bansa.Para narin umunlad ang ating ekonomiya.Mahalaga ito sa ating pamumuhay nang sa gayon ay malaman natin kung paano ang tamang pagkakaroon ng pamilya.Dapat din mag tayo ng organisasyon ang gobyerno na kung tawagin ay "Family Planning",isang paraan ito sa pagbawas ng ating populasyon.Hindi lingid sa atin ang pagtaas na mga bilihin o "Economic Crisis".Isa ito sa ating mga problema na dapat hanapan ng solusyon.Dapat rin mag palaganap ang gobyerno na "Sex Education".Kasi marami sa mga kabataan ngayon na maagang na bubuntis dahil sa kawalan ng kaalaman tungkol sa pagpapamilya.

Sang-ayon ako sa two-child policy upang makontrol ang pagdami ng anak,para naman umunlad ang ekonomiya ng bansa.Kasi naman sa ngayon mas mabilis ang pagdami ng populasyon kaysa paglaki ng produksyon.Dahil dito nauubos ang ating likas na yaman dahil sa mali at di-wastong paggamit nito.Ang malaking populasyon ay walang magandang naiidulot sa atin.Kasi maraming mga taong nagugutom,mawawalan ng hanapbuhay o trabaho at iba pa.

I agree to this article that family planning, sex education for the youth, population policy, and two child policy will be applied to our country so that, our country will prosper.And to prevent abortion and malnutrition because majority of the people here in the Philippines are poverty-stricken.Some of the parents can not afford to send their children to school because they are lack of money.As i observed many of the teenagers are pregnant and had stopped schooling.They don't think what will be their life in the future.If they will not stop doing this kind of thing our country will not prosper.Many people are starving due to lack of food,lack of space to occupy, and lack of water supply.Now our population is explosing and there are now people that don't have jobs and they don't send their children to school because they are poverty-stricken.That's why we should discipline ourselves so that our country will prosper and we can prevent abortion and malnutrition.

For me a family should have only 2 children .We should control our population because of crisis.Each of the family should have family planning.Even if the Catholic Church is against family planning but should have it.Controlling the population is good because we can stop crisis .Over population can make so much pollution to our country................so we should have family planning.................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE "ANTI-LIFE AND ANTI-FAMILY" ADVOCATES

"MY AGREEMENT"

First of all i would like to say that I'm not an "ANTI-LIFE and ANTI-FAMILY".

Base on my agreement about Montalvan speech, i agree that there is TWO CHILD POLICY in our country, not only here but, globally to minimize the over crowded population and to less the malnourished children who suffered more. Parents must aware about the CRISIS they face right now not only them, but each individual is RESPONSIBLE for this situation. I agree also to conduct a SEX EDUCATION FOR YOUTH to inform teenager about this, because as of now 95% of teens is conscious if what's the result if they will enter this problem. For this reason many adolescence are get pregnant with out planning.In this case population may affected and more malnutrition will increase.

In this phrase "POPULATION CONTROL IS SIMPLY NOT THE SOLUTION TO POVERTY", yes, it is true.I believe that POPULATION POLICY is not the solution to poverty because it depends on us if we must work hand in hand coordinated with our government.Politics also must think wisely.One of the causes of poverty is the "CORRUPTION" that lead by our corrupting politics.

===jEaN aIlEnE===

jelyn Gongob (f)

Alam naman natin na tumatas na talaga ang populasyon sa Pilipinas. At mabuti rin naman kung mapairal ang two child policy na batas para talaga mabigyang pansin at maiwasan ang lalong pagdami ng populasyon at siguro naman din na magkaroon ang mga tao na maka-access sa mga libreng artificial contraceptives para hindi na sila mangangamba na baka mabuntis sila o hindi. Pero kahit pa ang lahat ng ito ay maipatupad, hindi pa rin natin dapat isantabi ang pagkaroon ng isang korap na bayan. Dapat maipatupad ang mga nararapat na parusa sa mga pulitiko. At sana, huwag nating gawin ang aborsyon, dahil kahit ito ay siguro tulong para makawala sa problema ang isang aksidenteng nabuntis alam naman natin na ito ay labag sa mata ng diyos.

Alam naman natin na tumatas na talaga ang populasyon sa Pilipinas. At mabuti rin naman kung mapairal ang two child policy na batas para talaga mabigyang pansin at maiwasan ang lalong pagdami ng populasyon at siguro naman din na magkaroon ang mga tao na maka-access sa mga libreng artificial contraceptives para hindi na sila mangangamba na baka mabuntis sila o hindi. Pero kahit pa ang lahat ng ito ay maipatupad, hindi pa rin natin dapat isantabi ang pagkaroon ng isang korap na bayan. Dapat maipatupad ang mga nararapat na parusa sa mga pulitiko. At sana, huwag nating gawin ang aborsyon, dahil kahit ito ay siguro tulong para makawala sa problema ang isang aksidenteng nabuntis alam naman natin na ito ay labag sa mata ng diyos.

As I read the article of montalvan, I've learned that it is good for us to have a Family Planning in order to minimize the Population Growth and malnutrition that is the main problem in our country as of now. In that way, we can prevent abortion as one also the problem of the philippines. I agree also the two child policy because now adays, many people looking for a job for their family. If the population is always increasing many of the people are suffering from crisis. And the other siblings can't go to school because of kahirapan. Other parent's abandon their child cause they cannot afford their daily needs. And the government must be strict in that policy because it's only for our own good.

Reaksyon tungkol sa Montalvan

Base sa naintindihan ko, mahalaga talaga ang "FAMILY PLANNING", dahil ito lang ang paraan para hindi dumami ang mga anak mo. At para rin wala nang mga batang kulang sa nutrisyon o ang tinatawag nating "malnourish". At para din ang mga magulang nila ay hindi na mahihirapan sa paghanap ng mga makakain nila. At para din wala nang mga batang "malnourish".

The Anti Life and Anti Family Advocates

Agenda causing reproductive health, population policy, two child policy and sex education for the youth. Which they promote the use of artificial contraception in the guise of promoting “women’s health’’.

This is very much awakening now a day not only here in our country but globally.
As for me it has a good intention to promote such bill like this but in the other hand to promote such bill it takes time to approve to make law. If we must aware in our society we witness the crisis we face right now because one of the overpopulation growth.

According to Thomas Robert Malthus an English demographer and who introduce the rather pessimistic principle that foresaw the world’s population out running food supply, leading to decrease food per person.

It is very true that out running food supply leading also decrease of food per person it just only happen if there is unemployment. If only each person has a job then they can provide for there own nor in his family.

I opposed on the belief that we are poor because we are too many.
People must aware what is happening in our world today. We must work hand in hand coordinated with our government. To resolve the problem we suffer now.
Ask for me the government must focus on employment for the people to overcome food crisis as well as overpopulation.

IV-MATATAG

Base on my understanding about the article of montalvan.We the people or the government must have a reproductive health for the community or in our country,two-child policy,population policy & also sex education for us the youth so that we must aware of what we do.The studies of Malthus are more on population growth,& we people must control the sexual abstinence & if possible in every couple must have two children,so that our population would not be crowded.And for that we have to agree in that solution.....
-Analou A. Daray-

mahalaga ang pagpalaganap ng family planning

Para sa akin mahalaga ang magkaroon ng pag Family Planning upang hindi maghirap ang pamilya at upang maibigay ang wastong pangangailangan ng pamilya. Mahalaga rin ito upang maiwasan ang paglaki ng populasyon at upang maiwasan ang pagpalaganap ng aborsyon. Kapag magkakaroon ng Family Planning ay maiiwasan ang pagdami ng bilang ng mga batang malnourish. Kaya kinakailangan sa pamilya ang mag Family Planning upang magkaroon ng maginhawa at magandang kinabukasan ang bawat isa sa pamilya.

mahalaga ang pagpalaganap ng family planning

Para poh sa akin, mahalaga po ito dahil sa panahon ngayon maraming mga pamilyang kulang sa kaalamang pangpamilya. Na naging isa sa mga problemang kinakaharap ng ating bansa ngayon dahil narin sa mabilis na paglaki ng populasyon, kayat maraming naghihirap ngayon. At dapat masugpo natin ito at panatilihing alagaan ang ating mga kalusugan, at pangangalaga sa kapaligiran at pati narin sa paggamit ng kontraseptibo. Mahalaga rin na mapag-uusapang maagi ng mag-asawa upang maging malinaw ang tunguhin ng pagpaplano ng pamilya upang magkaroon ng matiwasay at maginhawang buhay. Kayat dapat sundin natin ang pagpapaFamily Planning.

A REACTION to MR. MONTALVAN'S ARTICLE

First and foremost, I would like to say that I am not an “anti-life” or “anti-family” advocate. BUT, somehow I would like to be open about the issues regarding the artificial family planning methods. I believe that the recent debates about the reproductive health bill in the congress must be given a chance to be heard. The government must think what is best for its people and the country despite all the threats from the influential religious communities.

According to the government projections, when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term in 2010, the population will swell to 93 million. What is alarming about this reality is that the poverty incidence in the Philippines remains high at 40 percent. Imagine that? It’s about 37 million Filipinos in absolute poverty. The author of the article KRIS-CROSSING MINDANAO stated that the countries lured by the Malthusian myth are now offering incentives to encourage childbearing in the attempt to curb population decline. Well, I guess its better that way than watching over 37 million Filipinos dying in severe hunger. The so called “pro-life” advocates are claiming that the artificial methods of family planning like IUDs, pills and other intrauterine devices are considered abortifacients and using these techniques are crime. But think of this, more and more cases of children are being abandoned because their parents can’t support them. And yet, these couples keep on bearing children which they can’t even feed, isn’t it a crime even more? It’s a harsh reality that our country must face. Something must be done to rebalance population growth against the limited resources. I believe that the reproductive health bill is a direct help especially to the poor Filipinos. The Filipino couples must be allowed to freely choose between natural and artificial family planning method, either way they must plan their future families.

I agree with the author’s statement that population control is simply not a solution to poverty, that is, graft and corruption must be put to an end. However, since corruption in Philippine politics is something that is very difficult to stop overnight, for now the government must do something to effectively lower the population growth. But the author stated his concerns about less births means less labor force for the next 20 years. Again, think of this, what can we do with too large population in the future when almost half of these can’t even read or write? Couples with fewer offspring are more capable of providing food, shelter and quality education to their children. I am a first-hand witness to this, because even though my parents have minimal income, they can still provide all our needs because we are only four in the family.

Filipinos must be open to change especially if it’s for the betterment of the country and its people.

sang-ayon ako dahil,para sa akin mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng "Family Planning" para maiwasan ang pagdami ng populasyon.At dapat din nating malaman kung ano ang dapat at hindi dapat gawin at para rin ito sa ating kapakanan .At upang maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng abortion at mga batang malnourish .Kung nagpatuloy ang pagdami ng populasyon ,lalo lang tayong naghihirap.

Reaksyon tungkol sa Montalvan

It is better to have a family planning so that we can avoid the population growth. It is better also to us students, to know the sex education on how to avoid. And also to avoid abortion and misconception of birth.

Montalvan

The control system for population growth may affect the labor force in the coming years, but having the bills that may consider for population control are efficient, which means if we are going to follow or approve that bill it will surely do good in our country in terms of food crisis, space, and enough supply for the next generation.
But the major result for that is the lower capacity for the economy to grow, due to low demand of the people.
In the case of trashing abortive pills or medicine to help the woman's health is a good solution. If the baby on the womb of a mother is being denied by the parents there comes the possibility that the girl would abort her baby, in that case the parents should not let the girl to do that.
For the parents who are disappointed would have no other choice than to accept it.
I don't agree to suggestion of having the control of population because I believe that it is not the right solution for the situation now in our country.

about montalvan

I agree for this article because it can prevent abortion and family growth because there is too many teenagers experience sexuality. And I also agree on two child policy because it can prevent malnutrition of children and population growth. Family Planning is the best method to prevent over population.

mahalaga ang paglaganap ng family planning

para po sa akin,ay mahalaga talaga ang family planning,kasi kung hindi po tayo magpaplano sa ating pamilya ay dadami ang ating populasyon at mas marami ang makaranas ng malnourish.Lalo pa ngayon na mahirap na ang buhay,at hirap pang makahanap ng trabaho at ang mamahal na nang maga bilihin ngayon,lalo na ang bigas..
kaya yan lang po ang masasabi ko

Mahalaga ang pag palaganap ng "Family Planning" sa isang bansa, masasagot nito ang isue ng pag lolobo ng malnutrisyon sa isang bansa. Makakatulong din ito para ma fucos ang mga magulang na di maraming anak na matustusan ang pangangailangan ng kanilang anak at mabibigay nila ang atensyon nila dito.
Makakatulong din ang pagpapalaganap at ang pag papaalam sa lahat kung ano ang mabuting benepesyo ng "Sex Education" sa pamamagitan nito malulutas ang kaso ng aborsyon sa ating bansa.
Ngunit ang Two Child Policy ay hindi sagot sa problema ng aborsyon at malnutrisyon sa bansa, dapat nating isipin kung ano ang magiging binipesyo nito sa ating bansa, dahil halimbawa kung lilimitahan natin ang pag luwal ng anak ng isang pamilya dadating ang panahon na makukulang ang "LABOR FORCE" sa ating bansa , at kung gagawin natin tong 3 o higit pang anak bawat pamilya, dadating ang panahon na ang LABOR FORCE sa ating bansa ay hindi magiging problema, Hindi natin alam baka maging negosyante yung dapat na ikatlong anak niya halimbawa maka close ng malaking investment deal,malaking makukuntribute nya na Tax sa ating bansa. Kasi sa aking palagay hindi lahat ng magiging profesional ay mag tatrabaho dito sa ating bansa ang iba ay lalabas sa ating bansa upang magtatrabaho og mag OFW, halimbawa kalahati ng mga anak na naging LABOR FORCE na galing sa TWO CHILD POLICY ang nag OFW makukulang ang WORKERS sa ating bansa.
Ngunit nasa pamilya parin ang desesyon kung ilang anak ang iluluwal nila.

Reaksyon tungkol sa "Montalvan"

Para sa akin, maganda nga kung may mahigpit na pagbabawal ng papapalaglag ng bata sa sinapupunan ng ina dahil hindi maganda ang maidudulot nito sa ina dahil yung iba ay umiinom lang nang "pills" para malaglag ang bata sa kanilang tiyan, pero hindi nila alam baka yung gamot na ininom nila ay meron pala yung "side effects" na hindi maganda ang maidudulot nito. Dapat kung hindi pa nila kayang mag dadalang tao, mas mabuti sana na hindi sila nagpabuntis dahil hindi pa naman nila kaya. Mag - isip - isip na muna sila bago nila gawin iyang bagay na yan. Dapat may tamang ring "family planning" nang sa ganun hindi sila mahihirapan sa pagpapalaki nang kanilang mga anak. Para may wastong mga pagkain ang mga bata at nasa wastong nutrition sila. Maiiwasan natin ang malnutrition kapag sapat lang yung mga anak sa pamilya para hindi nila paghati-hatian ang mga pagkain, may sapat at tamang pagkain sa mga anak dahil hindi masyadong marami ang mga pinapakain. Eto lang ang masasabi ko tungkol sa artikulo na aking nabasa.

reaksyo sa artikulo sa pamilya

para sa akin, mahalaga ang may magulang sa pamilya dahil sila ang nag- papalaki at nag-aalaga, kaya huwag nating pabayaan dahil sila ang pag-asa sa ating buhay at sila ang nag-tuturo kong paano natin maabot ang ating mga pangarap.

At pamilya ang tinaguriang pinakamaliit na sangay ng lipunan. Sa loob ng isang pamilya, maari ring mabalangkas ang isang pamahalaan o gobyerno. Ang mga magulang ang pamahalaan at ang mga anak ang mga mamamayan.

At ang pamilya din ay lipon ng dalawa o higit pa sa dalawang tao na magkaugnay sa dugo, sa bisa ng sakramento ng kasal o sa pamamagitan ng pag-aampon o paninirahan sa isang tirahan. Mahalaga ang pananatili ng pamilya dahil ito ang tumutugon sa maraming pangangailangan tulad ng pangangalaga sa mga batang kasapi nito. Ito ay binubuo ng ama, ina at mga anak.

para sa akin, ang masasabi ko sa artikolo ay masmaganda kung maslalong higpitan pa ang pagpapalaganap ng anti-family growth,at naniniwala rin akong malaki ang maiitutulong nito sa population issues natin ngayon na lalong lumalaki.
Nakakatulong din ito sa problema na hinaharap natin ngayon, ang tumataas na rating ng aborsyon,annulment,lalong lalo na sa pagkakakulang ng budget ng goberno para sa mamayanan.
at naniniwala ako kung magkakaintindihan at magkakaisa ang lahat at maniniwala sa magandang kinalabasan ng artikolo na sinasabi ay mawawala na ang kinatatakotan ng lahat at nasisiguro kung maganda talaga........talagang talaga.

About Montalvan

KRIS-CROSSING MINDANAOThey’re at Malthus again
By Antonio J. Montalvan IILast updated 01:19am (Mla time) 07/10/2006
Published on page A15 of the July 10, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

I AM REFERRING TO THE ANTI-LIFE AND ANTI-family advocates who seem not to run out of clever ways to insert their Western-based agenda into every conceivable legislation they can think of. Now they would have 21 bills of various concerns consolidated into an omnibus law covering reproductive health, population policy, two-child policy and sex education for the youth. Of the bills, at least three promote the use of artificial contraception in the guise of promoting “women’s health.”

These advocates have turned a valid societal concern into a euphemism for their real agenda-population control. If they really want to address women’s health, why is there no attempt to include Senate Bill 319? The bill seeks to ban abortive drugs and devices. The bills exclusion gives away outright the sinister intentions of the advocates.

The basis of their arguments of course, is the erroneous belief that a decline in population means economic growth and development. Thomas Robert Malthus was an English demographer from 1766-1834. It was he who introduce the rather pessimistic principle that foresaw the world’s population out running food supply, leading to decrease food per person.

To check population growth, Mathus advocated, among other solutions, what we called “moral restraint and vice.” This population control strategy called for the late marriage and sexual abstinence; but is also advocated infanticides, murder, contraception and homosexuality. But there’s the catch in the Malthus proposal: these solutions would apply only to the poor and working classes. In the Mathusian argument, only the lower social classes would assume social responsibility for societal ills.

Since then many have misinterpreted Malthus, even overlooking other aspects of his argument. For example, there are those who ignore for the fact that Malthus himself, even as he pressed for population control, stated that we cannot denigrate man’s capacity (he called it power) to increase food supply.

Those who do cling to Malthus’ theory up to this day misinterpret not just for his thought. In there vain desire to adopt the western culture of licentious behavior in the name of freedom and self-determination, they have put up their own smokescreen to keep them from seeing a succession of various scholars and students that have effectively debunked Malthus since 1960’s. At least one such study, published in 1966, was not only a pioneering initiative at that time; it gaves its proponent a Nobel prize honor. Since then, up until 1990’s and the present, a progression of other studies has only pointed to the emerging reality: there just is no population bomb.

Not only that, countries that have been lured by the Malthusian myth into running a “successful” population program now have to address the grim reality of diminishing human resources. Japan, Germany and Italy are now in the throes of the so called “ demographic winter.” The governments of Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Bulgaria are now offering incentives to encourage childbearing in the attempt to curb population decline.

Yet here in the Philippines, anti-life advocates-usually pikon when criticize despite the fact that they have access to the legislative powers-that-be-cling to an out-of-touch, outdated and archaic thinking that even their Western gods have failed to prove in their respective countries. The advocates seem not to hear the alarm bells ringing in countries where the demographic winter has set in, countries that are now repentant at having toyed with Malthus theory.

Why the recalcitrance on the part of our anti-life advocates? There clearly a colonial agenda here that is tied to Western purse strings. These agenda-makers may not be obtrusive with their presence. It is even possible that some advocates are aware of them or have not yet notice them. But I won’t be surprise if there lurks in the shadows such anti-life giant octopuses as Planned Parenthood, whose tentacles may have spread far and wide to influence Philippine legislative efforts.

Population control is simply not the solution to poverty. The Philippine population control program, in place since the 1970’s and funded by billions of pesos of public money, has brought down the population from 3.08 percent during the period of 1960-1970 to 2.36 percent during the period 1995-2000. Despite the population decline, however, poverty incidence has not been reduce significantly. Clearly then, there are other factors that are not being address. Try curbing graft and corruption, as we expects legislators to do.

The proposed bills are premised on the belief that we are poor because we are too many. Fewer births may (or may not) mean less expense for a family, depending on its priorities. What is certain however, is that less births means less people for the labor force in the next 20 years. Higher population densities do not necessarily translate into lower personal income. We have certainly seen this in thickly populated areas that exhibit higher incomes and greater economic activity (the National Capital Region, Southern Tagalog, Cebu, Davao, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea; as opposed to Bolivia, Kenya, Ethiopia, which have lower density but also lower personal income)

Finally, when must we put a stop to the use of the term “reproductive health” which, in international forums, is simply a catch-all jargon that includes abortion; but which local advocates have repeatedly denied? The attempt to redefine a term that has become part of an all-encompassing political definition is a lame method of deceit and dishonesty.
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