Pass the RH Bill Now (Statement of individual faculty of the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University)
Statement of individual faculty of the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University in support of HB 4244, “An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development, and for Other Purposes”
We, the undersigned faculty of the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University, in our individual capacities as educators and scholars from various academic disciplines, declare our strong support for the consolidated reproductive health bill (House Bill 4244) and urge its immediate passage in Congress. We issue this statement because we see the need for our active engagement in social issues, believing as we do that the academe has a distinct role to play in achieving social justice and national development.
We have read House Bill 4244 on “Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development” currently filed in the House of Representatives and have kept abreast of the ongoing debates. Many of us have been working on reproductive health and its related issues, some of us for decades. We have undertaken our own studies (literature reviews and analysis, policy studies, empirical researches, etc.) on reproductive health. Many of us have also participated in legislative processes such as public hearings and technical working groups.
Our studied and collective opinion is that House Bill 4244 is a vital piece of legislation. Its passage will mandate policies which will save women’s and men’s lives, improve infant survival, enhance young people’s health and well-being, and enable couples and individuals to make responsible decisions in planning their families. We also endorse this bill as a necessary element to achieve the goals of social equity, poverty reduction, and national development. There is overwhelming scientific evidence that these goals can be achieved without resorting to population control. Our reading of HB 4244 is that it is not a population control bill, nor does it violate any other rights and freedoms. HB 4244 in fact promotes the sexual and reproductive rights, the right to health, and the right to informed decision making of all Filipinos but especially the poor, in fulfillment of the provisions of our Constitution and our obligations under international covenants. The passage of a national and comprehensive law will also guarantee budgetary support from the national government for reproductive health initiatives and ensure their implementation by local government units, regardless of the vagaries of national and local leadership.
We are issuing this statement because we wish to support those legislators who rely on scientific evidence when they craft legislative proposals or decide how to vote. Their endorsement of HB 4244 is an encouraging example of progressive legislation that is necessary to national development.
In this light, we feel the need to comment on the way science has been misused by those who oppose this bill. We have seen the misrepresentation of easily verifiable information, such as the actual text of the proposed bill. We have witnessed the misuse of outdated studies, data that have already been disproven, or studies that cannot be replicated to support what are merely ideological positions. One example that is particularly dangerous is the lie that condoms do not protect against sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. There have also been those who misrepresent extremist positions as the prevailing consensus of the scientific community. This evidence-based consensus, however, does support the provision of reproductive health services that include contraceptive access and sexuality education. It also supports the services for adolescents and children that HB 4244 mandates.
We are concerned over reports that teachers offer incentives, such as bonus points, for students to make anti-RH statements or engage in anti-RH activities. We welcome disparate opinions as necessary to the vitality of any scholarly community. Thus, we believe that it is an abuse of our role as value formators to dictate the political actions of our students in this way. We denounce any such violations of our duties to inculcate critical thinking and respect our students’ right to their own opinions. We denounce this, regardless of whether the teacher is for or against the RH Bill.
We caution our people to be more critical of the data and opinions presented to them and find out the truth for themselves. We are heartened by polls that show that most Filipinos know of the bill and support it, and in so doing have shown their capacity for enlightened citizenship.
Together with the legislators who have proven themselves worthy of their mandate by their support for the bill, we reiterate our full and unequivocal endorsement of HB 4244 and call for its immediate enactment into law.
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Signed: Individual faculty of the University of the Philippines (23 March 2011)
Sylvia Estrada Claudio, MD, Director, Center for Women’s Studies, and Professor, Department of Women and Development Studies, UP Diliman
Odine de Guzman, Deputy Director for Research and Publication, Center for Women’s Studies, and Associate Professor, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman
Maria Theresa D. Ujano-Batangan, Deputy Director for Training and Outreach, Center for Women’s Studies, and Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Victor J. Paz, Professor and Director, Archaeological Studies Program, UP Diliman
Carolyn I. Sobritchea, Professor, Asian Center, and former Director, Center for Women’s Studies, UP Diliman
Eduardo Climaco Tadem, Professor of Asian Studies, Asian Center, UP Diliman
Rene Eleazar Ofreneo, Director, Center for Labor Justice (CLJ), Professor and former Dean, School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR), UP Diliman
Rosario Cruz-Lucero, Professor, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman
Teresita G. Maceda, Professor, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman
Dina S. Ocampo, Professor and Dean, College of Education, UP Diliman
Elizabeth Aguiling-Pangalanan, Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman
Gigo A. Alampay, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman
Carolina S. Ruiz Austria, Senior Lecturer (on study leave), College of Law, UP Diliman
Gwen G. de Vera, Assistant Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman
Robert N. Dio, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman
Dante B. Gatmaytan, Associate Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman
Ibarra M. Gutierrez III, Associate Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman
Marvic F. Leonen, Professor and Dean, College of Law, UP Diliman
Raul C. Pangalanan, former Dean and Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman
Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr., Professor, College of Law, UP Diliman
Arno V. Sanidad, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman
Evalyn G. Ursua, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman
Susan D. Villanueva, Professorial Lecturer, College of Law, UP Diliman
Clarissa C. David, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Shirley P. Evidente, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Joanna Eunice V. Parungao, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Elena E. Pernia, Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Randy Jay Solis, Assistant Professor, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Rolando B. Tolentino, Professor and Dean, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Roxanne B. Cipriano, Instructor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Archie Lawrence P. Geneta, Instructor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Jose R. Lacson, Jr., Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Florinda D.F. Mateo, Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Lourdes M. Portus, Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Violeta A. Umali, Associate Professor, Communication Research Department, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Elizabeth L. Enriquez, Professor, Department of Broadcast Communication, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Libay Linsangan Cantor, Assistant Professor, Film Institute, College of Mass Communication, UP Diliman
Maria Lourdes T. Camagay, Professor, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman
Maria Cecilia G. Conaco, Professor, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman
Michael L. Tan, Professor and Dean, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman
Rosalinda Pineda Ofreneo, Professor and Dean, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Amaryllis T. Torres, former Dean and Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Rosario de Santos Del Rosario, Professor Emeritus, College of Social Work and Community Development and Center for International Studies, UP Diliman
Ma. Theresa V. Tungapalan, Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Maureen C. Pagaduan, Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Mary Lou L. Alcid, Associate Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Aleli B. Bawagan, Associate Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Roselle Leah K. Rivera, Professor and Chair, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Jeremias T. Leones, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Maria Linnea Villarosa, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Teresita V. Barrameda, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Yolanda G. Ealdama, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Rainier V. Almazan, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Rosalie T. Quilicol, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Thelma B. Magcuro, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
John Erwin S. Banez, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Anna Liza R. Magno, Senior Lecturer, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Justin V. Nicolas, Instructor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Romano Antonio V. Wamil, Instructor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Nathalie A. Verceles, Assistant Professor, College of Social Work and Community Development, UP Diliman
Romy Fay V. Gumba, Instructor, Department of Art Studies, UP Diliman
Conchitina Cruz, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Comparative Literature, UP Diliman
Thelma B. Kintanar, Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature, UP Diliman
Bienvenido Lumbera, Professor Emeritus, Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, UP Diliman, and National Artist for Literature
Alwin C. Aguirre, Assistant Professor, Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, UP Diliman
Ma. Luisa De Leon-Bolinao, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of History, UP Diliman
Ma. Serena I. Diokno, Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman
Gil G. Gotianco, Jr., Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman
Dedina A. Lapar, Associate Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman
Ma. Mercedes G. Planta, Associate Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman
Walter M. Robles, Assistant Professor, Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management, UP Diliman
Louward Allen M. Zubiri, Lecturer, Department of Linguistics, UP Diliman
Maria Theresa T. Payongayong, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, UP Diliman
Teresa Encarnacion Tadem, Professor, Department of Political Science, UP Diliman
Cherrie Joy F. Billedo, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Annalyn De Guzman Capulong, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Jose Antonio R. Clemente, Instructor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Aurora Odette Corpuz-Mendoza, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Christine Ann A. De Villa, Instructor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
John Hudson Go, Instructor IV, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Mita Jimenez, Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Eric Julian D. Manalastas, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Michelle G. Ong, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Diwa Malaya A. Quiñones, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Divine Love A. Salvador, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Christie P. Sio, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Beatriz A. Torre, Instructor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Elizabeth R. Ventura, Professor, Department of Psychology, UP Diliman
Rizza Kaye C. Caces, Instructor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon Bautista, Professor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
Laura L. Samson, Professor, Department of Sociology, UP Diliman
Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, Professor and Director, Institute of Mathematics, University of the Philippines
Fidel R. Nemenzo, Professor, Institute of Mathematics, UP Diliman
Marian P. Roque, Professor, Institute of Mathematics, UP Diliman
Erwin A. Alampay, Associate Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
Edna E. A. Co, Professor and Dean, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
Alvic M. Padilla, Assistant Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
Maria Victoria R. Raquiza, Assistant Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman
Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza, Professor, National College of Public Administration and Governance, UP Diliman, and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, UP Open University
Alyssa Peleo-Alampay, Professor, National Institute of Geological Sciences, UP Diliman
Josefina V. Cabigon, Professor, Population Institute, UP Diliman
Maria Joy V. Abrenica, Associate Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Stella Alabastro-Quimbo, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Rupert P. Alonzo, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Agustin L. Arcenas, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Arsenia M. Balisacan, Professor and Dean, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Dante B. Canlas, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Joseph J. Capuno, Associate Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Ramon L. Clarete, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Solita Collas-Monsod, Professor Emeritus, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Rolando A. Danao, Professor Emeritus, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Emmanuel S. de Dios, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Benjamin E. Diokno, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Emmanuel F. Esguerra, Associate Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Raul V. Fabella, Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Teresa J. Ho, Professorial Lecturer, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Maria Nimfa M. Mendoza, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Toby Melissa C. Monsod, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Ernesto M. Pernia, Professorial Lecturer, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Gerardo P. Sicat, Professor Emeritus, School of Economics, UP Diliman
Dennis Claire S. Mapa, Associate Professor, School of Statistics, UP Diliman
Adonis Ramy L. Elumbre, Instructor, Department of History and Philosophy, UP Baguio
Maria Reina Boro-Magbanua, Assistant Professor, Department of History, UP Los Baños
Maria Helen F. Dayo, Director, Gender Center, UP Los Baños
Michael David T. Lopez, Instructor, Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Los Baños
Reynaldo H. Imperial, Centennial Professor and Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila
Nymia Pimentel Simbulan, Director, Office of Student Affairs, UP Manila
Cecilia A. Jimeno, MD, Associate Professor, College of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, UP Manila; Associate Professor, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU
Maria Julieta V. Germar, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UP Manila
Ricardo M. Manalastas, Jr., MD, Professor, College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UP Manila
Ma. Theresa L. de Villa, Professor of Education, UP Integrated School, College of Education, UP Diliman; Dean, Faculty of Education, UP Open University
Diego Silang S. Maranan, Instructor, Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, UP Open University
Randy Madrid, University Research Associate 2, Center for Western Visayas Studies, UP Visayas
Signed: Individual faculty of the Ateneo de Manila University (23 March 2011)
Marita Castro Guevara, Assistant Professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, ADMU
Atty. Ray Paolo J. Santiago, Deputy Executive Director, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Ateneo Law School, ADMU
Atty. Amparita S. Sta. Maria, Director for Women and Migrants Desk, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Ateneo Law School, ADMU
Joy G. Aceron, Program Director, Ateneo School of Government, ADMU
Raymundo S. Baquiran, MD, MPH, Associate Professor and Coordinator for Public Health, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU
Marthony P. Basco, MD, MPH, Lecturer, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU
Manuel D. Cuenca, Jr., MD, DBPA, Asst. Professor and Asst. Year Level 6 Coordinator, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU
Maria Cleofe Gettie C. Sandoval, JD, Lecturer, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, ADMU
Fernando T. Aldaba, Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU
Germelino M. Bautista, Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU
Edsel L. Beja, Jr., Associate Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU
Aleta C. Domdom, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU
Jamil Paolo S. Francisco, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU
Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr., Professor, Department of Economics, ADMU
Marilou A. Perez, Instructor, Department of Economics, ADMU
Joselito T. Sescon, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU
Patrick Gerard C. Simon-King, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU
Philip Arnold P. Tuaño, Lecturer, Department of Economics, ADMU
Alexis A. L. Abola, Instructor, Department of English, ADMU
Roy Tristan B. Agustin, Assistant Instructor, Department of English, ADMU
Ana Marie O. Fernandez, Assistant Professor, Department of English, and Executive Director, Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching, ADMU
Ada Javellana Loredo, Assistant Professor, Department of English, ADMU
Cynthia Nograles Lumbera, Assistant Professor (retired), Department of English, ADMU
Isabel Pefianco Martin, Associate Professor, Department of English, ADMU
Lara Tajonera-Mendoza, Instructor, Department of English, ADMU
Marianne Rachel G. Perfecto, Assistant Professor, Department of English, ADMU
Danilo Francisco M. Reyes, Assisant Professor, Department of English, ADMU
Sandra Nicole C. Roldan, Instructor, Department of English, ADMU
Louie Jon A. Sanchez, Lecturer, Department of English, ADMU
Maria Teresa Pineda Tinio, Assistant Professor, Department of English, ADMU
Nastasia Tysmans, Lecturer, European Studies Program, ADMU
Gary C. Devilles, Assistant Professor, Kagawaran ng Filipino, ADMU
Yolando B. Jamendang, Jr., Kagawaran ng Filipino, ADMU
Benjo A. Delarmente, MD, Lecturer, Health Sciences Program, ADMU
Norman Dennis E. Marquez, MD, Director, Health Sciences Program, ADMU
Karl Ian Uy Cheng Chua, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU
Lisandro E. Claudio, Lecturer (on study leave), Department of History, ADMU
Randolph Joseph H. de Jesus, Lecturer, Department of History, ADMU
Francis A. Gealogo, Associate Professor, Department of History, ADMU
Brian Paul A. Giron, Lecturer, Department of History, ADMU
Olivia Anne M. Habana, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU
Meynardo P. Mendoza, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU
Aaron Rom O. Moralina, Department of History, ADMU
Isabel Consuelo A. Nazareno, Instructor, Department of History, ADMU
Michael D. Pante, Assistant Instructor, Department of History, ADMU
Jose Ma. Edito Kalaw Tirol, Assistant Professor, Department of History, ADMU
Atty. Arnold F. De Vera, Lecturer, Department of Marketing and Law, ADMU, and Executive Director, Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN)
Remmon E. Barbaza, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU
Mark Joseph T. Calano, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU
Manuel B. Dy, Jr., Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU
Geoffrey A. Guevara, Instructor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU
Agustin Martin G. Rodriguez, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy, ADMU
Jean Emily P. Tan, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU
John Carlo P. Uy, Assistant Instructor, Department of Philosophy, ADMU
Carmel Veloso Abao, Instructor, Department of Political Science, ADMU
Roberto Manuel G. Benedicto, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, ADMU
Ma. Elissa Jayme Lao, Instructor, Department of Political Science, ADMU
Jennifer Santiago Oreta, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, ADMU
Alma Maria Ocampo Salvador, Assistant Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, ADMU
Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, ADMU
Liane Peña Alampay, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Ma. Brenda S. Batistiana, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Nico A. Canoy, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Ma. Regina M. Hechanova, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Jocelyn M. Mayoralgo-Nolasco, Instructor, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Cristina Jayme Montiel, Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Mira Alexis P. Ofreneo, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Josephine P. Perez, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Ma. Margarita A. Ramos, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Mendiola Teng-Calleja, Instructor, Department of Psychology, ADMU
Ricardo G. Abad, Professor, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU
Leslie Advincula Lopez, Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU
Elizabeth Uy Eviota, Professorial Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU
Nota F. Magno, Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU
Marcia Czarina Corazon M. Medina, Lecturer, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU
Emma E. Porio, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology-Anthropology, ADMU
Roberto O. Guevara, Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, ADMU
Michael J. Liberatore, Instructor, Department of Theology, ADMU
Ruben C. Mendoza, Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, ADMU
Raul Socrates C. Banzuela, Lecturer, Development Studies Program, ADMU
Mariel Vincent A. Rapisura, Lecturer, Development Studies Program, ADMU
Edwin M. Salonga, Lecturer, Development Studies Program, ADMU, and
Mary Racelis, Research Scientist, Institute of Philippine Culture, ADMU
