Legislative Advocacy Strategies of Pressure Groups: The Case of the Reproductive Health Care Act of 2002

Abstract

The Philippines is facing an unprecedented population boom. Current figures from the National Statistics Office pegs the present population at more than 80 million. This figure makes the country the 14" most populous country in the world. With a current annual growth rate of 2.34 percent, the population will double by 2030 and by that time, we will be the 7° most populous country in the world. These figures and the denial of the government of the population problem alarmed some legislators. They figured that the spiraling population can be attributed to the lack of services, facilities and information for married couples to avail of safe and alternative family planning methods. The legislators also noted an increase in unwanted pregnancies among single women. These unwanted pregnancies often lead to complications like abortion, low birth weight and sometimes maternal death. The legislators also noted a sharp increase in the poverty incidence. Today, 40 percent of the population or more than 30 million Filipinos live below the poverty line. These Filipinos live on less than P50 a day. To address this issues, the legislators filed the “Reproductive Health Care Act of 2002” or the RH bill of the 12" Congress. This policy hopes to slow down the ballooning population by upholding the rights of couples and individuals, particularly the women, to control their fertility. This will be done by giving them the information and access to a full range of reproductive health and family planning services. The Philippines is a democratic country and as such, concerned sectors were given the chance to express their views regarding the RH bill. During these hearings, the RH bill drew much attention and several groups declared their support for the bill while others urged the legislators to scrap the bill. Supporters of the RH bill were women’s organizations, non-government organizations, peoples organizations and non-Catholic organizations. Oppositors of the bill, on the other hand, were led by the Catholic Church hierarchy represented by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and other lay organizations. These groups consolidated their legislative advocacy campaign and employed several strategies to influence the passage of the bill. They engaged in public forums and conferences, distributed information, education and communication materials, appeared in radio and television shows and released media statements to advance their agenda. The position of the pressure groups have an ideological basis. Supporters of the RH bill are campaigning for the empowerment of women. The Catholic Church hierarchy’s stand is rooted in their uncompromisable stand on contraception which the RH bill espouses. To have a legislated population and reproductive health policy, both groups must find a common ground. The salient provisions of the bill will not benefit a single sector. The main beneficiary of the RH bill is the country. The RH bill will stem the growth of the population by giving married couples and individuals control over their sexuality. Giving them alternative family planning methods that are safe and affordable does this. This research used the Inequality Theory in feminism. Catherine MacKinnon espoused this theory. Her theory asserts that women are marginalized because they have been discriminated upon for a long time. The State which is supposed to protect the oppressed are bias against women. It is not enough to campaign for the equality of men and women for this will only complicate some things because men and women are inherently different. To address the issue, the law should be directed to be more responsive to the needs of women. The inequality theory looks at legislation as a powerful instrument to empower women.