Mong Palatino

Vote explanation to RH Bill

Mr Speaker, three days ago, December 10, pinagdiwang po ng buong mundo, kasama ang Pilipinas, ang International Human Rights Day. Ang RH po, kapag binaligtad ang acronym na ito ay HR. At ang ibig sabihin po nito sa pulitika ay Human Rights. And this is what the RH Bill is all about. It’s about our human rights because reproductive health is a human right.

I vote YES in behalf of all young people, especially those coming from poor families, who stand to benefit the most from the passage of this bill into law. Specificially, it addresses the right of young people to access relevant information, education, and essential health services.

I vote YES because our young people deserve to be given the proper knowledge about their bodies, about their sexuality, gender relationships, and reproductive health.

I vote YES so that in the future when a young person enters government health facility, he or she can freely and confidently ask guidance and medical advice about reproductive health, and feel no stigma or discrimination.

I vote YES not because I want this government to institute population control measures; but because I want this government to provide access to health services, including reproductive health services, to all, especially the poor. Para sa bata, kabataan, kababaihan, para sa may pamilya at walang pamilya, kasal o hindi kasal.

Ang RH Bill, tama po, ay hindi solusyon sa kahirapan, at kailanman po ay hindi ko tinuring ang RH Bill na sagot sa kahirapan. Pero ang karapatan sa kalusugan, ang karapatan ng mahihirap na matugunan ang kanilang reproductive health needs, ay mahahalagang rekisitos kung nais nating itaguyod ang isang maunland na lipunan.

I vote YES, Mr Speaker

December 13, 2012
House of Representatives

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