Reuters examines debate over proposed reproductive health bill in the Philippines

Reuters examines how Philippine President Benigno Aquino is supporting "a reproductive health bill that will, if passed by the two houses of Congress, guarantee access to free birth control and promote sex education," despite the "country's powerful Catholic church." According to the news service, "The predominately Catholic country has one of Asia's fastest-growing populations together with significant levels of chronic poverty," which has stunted economic growth. "Economists say high population growth is a primary factor for that, but the church ... says population growth is not a cause of poverty and that people need jobs, not contraception," Reuters writes. "But despite the arguments of the church and political opponents who decry using state funds to finance contraception, a poll last year showed about 70 percent of people support the bill," according to the news service, which notes, "Its backers want it passed during the term of this congress, which ends in June" (Lema, 10/2).