True pro-lifer, not hypocrite

If our country’s political and religious leaders could just discuss the population problem in a more levelheaded manner, we may be able to move forward and find a solution to this crippling crisis.

Our currently high poverty incidence gripping an estimated 34 percent of the nation is only being aggravated by a continuing high population growth. Based on the latest estimates, there are two million Filipino babies born every year, equivalent to four babies every minute.

The Philippines is now the 12th most populated country in the world. And, with close to 86 million people, we are undoubtedly one of the poorest.

Battling poverty by managing population growth continues to be a sound economic approach, as demonstrated by the experience of many countries, including Thailand and Indonesia.

For example, from almost the same rate as the Philippines’ three percent during the 70s, Thailand and Indonesia’s population growth rates are now down to 1.4 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. Their poverty incidence has likewise dropped to 9.8 percent and 18.2 percent.

Understandably, the Arroyo administration, in its medium-term development plan, is batting to reduce poverty incidence to 17.9 percent by 2010 from the current 34 percent. To achieve this, the government plans to reduce population growth to 1.9 percent by 2010 from 2.36 percent today.

How they are going to do this is not clear. From all indications, they have adopted a shot-gun approach (similar to what they are doing to solve the fiscal deficit) hoping that one or more will do the job. The problem with the shot-gun approach is that sometimes you hit yourself in the foot.

A Late DOH Act

The health department has come up with a catchy "Ligtas Buntis" campaign in the first quarter of the year. Using a P150-million funding, the program is now frantically targeting two million couples in a door-to-door campaign on the use of family planning methods.

The campaign aims to educate families, especially women, on fertility and reproductive health. A survey conducted by one of the country’s population agencies in 2003 showed that only 27 percent of Filipino women are aware of their fertility period while the rest are not able to correctly identify or not totally conscious about it.

"Ligtas Buntis," however, seems to have come too late. Economists from the University of the Philippines are saying that the health department’s initiative will not do the trick of slowing down population growth in six years.

Once Again From Congress

Another initiative is coming from Congress. Judging from the way pro-life group are reacting to House Bill 3773, author Rep. Edcel Lagman – yes, he’s the same person who proposed a two-child policy last year – appears to be headed for an uphill battle again.

As part of a campaign to discredit the bill, members of the Population and Development Foundation Inc. recently received envelopes that reportedly contained copies of Lagman’s bill with illustrations of couples engaged in sexual acts bearing labels such as "sample graphic sex education pictures."

An irate Lagman lamented the attack as an attempt to mislead the public into thinking that the proposed Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act of 2005 is just about teaching sex.

Distracting Arguments Against The Bill

Organizations vehemently opposing the bill, including the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, are claiming that the Lagman bill condones pre-marital sex because of its reference to "unmarried individuals." Are they really that naïve to think that only married individuals do sex and that unmarried individuals are not entitled to information about the sex act and its consequences?

Pro-lifers are also dragging the debate to new grounds by insisting that the proposed law encourages abortion. For a predominantly Roman Catholic country, this approach of linking population management initiatives to schemes in support of abortion that is synonymous to committing murder has been proven effective time and again to distract attention away from the issue of effective population management. This scare approach glosses over the fact that good population management can in fact prevent abortions. When couples make informed choices, the possibility of unwanted pregnancies is avoided, thus saving the woman from the risks of going through an abortion.

Demographic Scare

Pro-lifers are not just attacking the provisions of the new proposed bill but also the basic indicators used by economists, legislators, and population agencies. Pro-life groups insist that the population growth rate had slowed to a level lower than two percent.

Instead of worrying about the runaway population that is making economic recovery and poverty alleviation much more difficult to achieve, pro-life groups nag about the likelihood of the country facing a demographic winter, a situation where there is not enough human resources to run the economy.

If we believe our UP economists, the prospect of a demographic winter is not going to happen in the next 100 years in the Philippines, because by that time, there would be about 240 million Filipinos. And we will by then have run the economy to the ground.

Less Hypocrites And More True Pro-Life Advocates

Momentum is the key to achieving a rational and effective population management program. Lawmakers must keep on trying to pass sound proposals despite an apparent lack of support from the Palace. Polls have shown that seven out of 10 Filipinos believe that a rapid population growth is stalling economic progress. Eight of 10 say they would support candidates who espouse family planning.

What we need now are true pro-life proponents. A true pro-life Filipino is aware of the urgent need to manage the population, because being pro-life is about making sure that every baby born into this world is nourished and nurtured in the best way possible. Hypocrites have other agenda.

Is A Subsidy For MRT Sustainable?

Even with limited resources, the MRT3 management has sustained its operations and provided convenience and service to over 400,000 commuters daily. Lately, however, with financial pressures starting to affect the level of operations, complaints are increasing due to long queues, intermittent service interruptions, and security problems.

A review of the financial situation of MRT3 indicates that unless the current existing revenue sources are drastically improved, the MRT3 operations will continue to deteriorate.

One of the major financing sources of the MRT3 is the government that is providing substantial amount of subsidy. With a financial crisis staring at its face, this government is not in a position to continue current subsidy levels, much less increase it. What then is the remaining option for MRT3? It is the inevitable increase in fare?

Join us in "BREAKING BARRIERS" on Wednesday, 30th March 2005, IBC-TV13 (11 p.m.), and gain insights into the views of Ret. Gen. Roberto Tupaz Lastimoso, general manager, DOTC MRT3 and assistant secretary-rail sector, DOTC, on various issues related to MRT and the government’s mass transit program. Watch it.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. If you wish to view the previous columns, you may visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz.