LAC News
International Planned Parenthood and UNFPA Push “Two Child Policy” in Philippines
By Marian Ward
October 2008

In their attempt to globalize their anti-life agenda, International Planned Parenthood, along with other international pro-abortion groups like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has fixed its sights on the Philippines.  The Filipino legislature is contemplating a comprehensive reproductive health bill that, among other things, threatens to legalize abortion in the predominantly Catholic Asian nation. 

So far, UNFPA has doled out $26 million to advance its agenda in the Philippines through the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD).

“[The] Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development and for Other Purposes,” hit the floor of the Philippine Congress for debate in mid-September.

The bill mandates “ideal family size,” which amounts to laying groundwork for a “two-child policy” not unlike China’s infamous “one-child” counterpart.  It also provides for up to six months imprisonment and high fines for noncompliance.

Filipino Family Fund (FFF) President Eileen Macapanas Cosby finds the UNFPA-driven bill unsalvageable and believes pro-life Filipinos (and pro-life Americans in solidarity) should fight to kill the bill outright.  Finding little to no redeeming qualities to outweigh the consequences of the bill, Cosby told the international news agency Zenit (9/21/2008), “Freedom of speech is at stake.  Parents will not be able to object.  Health care workers will be forced to refer against their conscience. Employers will have to provide family planning services.”

Filipino attorney Rene Q. Bas finds “[deep] constitutional issues” with the “Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.”  Bas cites the 2006 law abolishing the death penalty in the Philippines as a major constitutional roadblock.  He argues that the RH bill directly contradicts established constitutional law to allow the killing of the innocent unborn while protecting convicted criminals.

Mr. Bas also cited the bill itself.  He claims that by highlighting “post-abortion complications,” the bill promotes abortion as a means of birth control or the provision would not be included.

In addition to the legal issues, Cosby says, “The Philippines, with the current population growth rate, has tremendous potential as an emerging economy to compete with Singapore.”  However, the RH bill severely threatens that growth.

Mrs. Cosby is urging pro-life Americans to show solidarity with the Filipino people by signing the FFF petition opposing the RH bill online. 

“In return for the foreign funding promised by Planned Parenthood and the United Nations, the Philippines will be losing moral ground.” Crosby told Zenit.

Action:

1) Pray for the Filipino citizens and legislators as they debate this weighty bill.