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PROCEEDINGS OF THE REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON A CONSENSUS BILL ON POPULATION

June 09, 2010 I 9:00am – 12:00nn Avenue Hotel, Naga City

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The consultation started with a national anthem and an invocation. Mr. Oman Jiao, the event moderator, asked for a brief introduction of participants representing the academe (11), business (2), NGOs/POs (23), government (12) and the religious (4) sectors. There were 51 participants who attended the forum. Afterwards, he introduced former Senator Mr. Vicente T. Paterno, the chair of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) for a Consensus Bill on Population (CBP), composed of the Bishop’s-Businessmen’s Conference (BBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Makati Business Club (MBC), and Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD). The presentation of Mr. Paterno was divided into two parts with an open forum after each presentation. He began with a recount of how the rudiments were evolved, and why the steering committee decided to embark on formulating the consensus bill (see Cebu).

OPEN FORUM Bernadette Gumba (Ateneo De Naga): It is part of the guiding principle of the consensus bill to promote women empowerment. It was also mentioned earlier that income class is positively related to education. So I would like to ask if you could emphasize the education of the women because they are the ones at the core here. We are talking about the lives of women as mothers and wives. May I propose if you could also include, in addition to women empowerment, promotion of women’s access to information and education, particularly on RH. Vicente Paterno (VTP): That is a good point, but let us not go to the extent of saying that it is only the women. If possible, the men should also be responsible because it takes two to tango. We can say, women, and also equally, men. Rose Sergio (Ateneo De Naga University): I had the occasion to attend the November 2009 meeting on the RH bill. I remember that the group was trying to come up with an alternative bill that would be a substitute for the RH bill. I also had an occasion to talk to Fr. Mario Francisco of ADMU who was there also and he asked for a copy of the alternative bill which sort of addresses some of the questionable provisions of the RH

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bill. It eventually was given the approval of the Catholic Educational Association Board members. So I would like to suggest that if you may accept, we would like to volunteer that draft for your consideration. I can give you a copy. VTP: We would be very happy to consider an alternative bill. Our recollection was that it was supposed to be a modification of the RH bill. Pero sa tingin namin, yung term na RH is already waving a red flag. ‘Pag sinabi mong RH bill ito, talagang di na babasahin. We would like to change not only the concept but also the impression. This is a population bill, not an RH bill. Ramiro Samar (Coca-Cola Workers Union): Based sa presentation ni Mr. Paterno, ang understanding ko ay hindi question kung malaki ang pamilya basta mapagaral ang mga anak. Sa labor sector, nakikita namin na ang problema ay ang sistema ng trabaho. Hangga’t nandito ang contractualization na 5 months lang ang employment, hindi mo mabubuhay ang pamilya mo. Hindi mabibigyan ng magandang education ang mga anak. Kahit college graduate kung papasok ka sa malaking kumpanya, kung contractual na 5 months lang ang trabaho paano mo maayos ang pamilya mo kahit na iisa lang ang anak? Maghahanap ka ulit ng panibagong trabaho na 5 months lang ulit. So sa tingin ko, population is not the problem but employment. As a representative of business, ang sinasabi naming ay dapat may security ang trabaho. Kung maganda ang trabaho, walang problema sa population. VTP: Sa aming grupo, ang nagiging tugon sa need for contractualization is that the law says if someone is employed for 6 months in any company, he must be made regular. ‘Yan ang problema, a number of employees are okay for 6 months. Once they have been made regular, naiiba na ang punto de vista nila. So can we do something about that requirement that somebody must be regularized after completing 6 months? If it were only possible, we want it to be for a longer period sana. If 2 years na at nakita naming okay siya, then there is no reason why he can’t be regularized. But this is not the forum to discuss labor issues. What we are saying is that if the parents could raise a family that they could raise and educate we can break the cycle of poverty. Marissa Trinidad (University of Nueva Caceres): First, we feel that a copy of the RH bill and the population bill should have been sent us prior to the forum so that we are able to make some comments as to the difference of the two. Second, is it possible to come up with certain provision that will make some modifications on the criteria for IRA? Like if a certain municipality is able to control the size of population, can this become an incentive, an additional IRA possibly?

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VTP: A bill cannot deal with too many subjects at the same time, e.g., labor and IRA. It is not supposed to have too many provisions on different aspects. We have to tackle IRA within the LGC. We have to tackle the problems of contractualization within the Labor Code. We cannot tackle these problems within the population bill although they are related. That is the process of legislation, that is how it works. Cristina Lim (Ateneo de Naga): What is the bill’s response on RH? If you look at objective 2 of the consensus bill, it says through effective FP. It does not say anything whether FP is acceptable or not. VTP: I would like to make clear the official stand of church the on FP itself. They are not against FP. They are against abortion. I am against abortion, too. There are elements of the church that are opposed to artificial contraceptives. I think our bill will contain a provision that no contraceptives must be abortifacient. We have to understand that we will not legislate for the Catholic Church, but for the people of this country. That is why we are including the Muslims in our regional forums sapagkat hindi ang Kristiyano lamang, hindi ang Katoliko lamang ang Pilipino. Lahat tayo – ang ating mga kuro-kuro, ang ating mga sentiments ay dapat matanggap at maipasok sa legislation. The problem is, very often, the church believes that the Philippines is entirely catholic. Stanley Daccon (Bicol Christian Life Community): Ang nakikita ko, regardless of religion, ang importante ay the morals. Mare-respect natin ang lahat kung tayo ay moral. VTP: It is true. The problem is that morality changes from one sector to the other, from one person to the next. Should a national law be based on one sector’s idea of morality? Should be a moral bill, but what is moral? Mila Arroyo (Ateneo De Naga/FPOP): We all agree on the premises and principles laid down on the bill. Since we are talking about a bill, we should be looking at that document if we are to comment on such a bill, but you don’t have it right now, unless the objective of the forum is to generate recommendations on what should be in that bill, then we are fine. I believe that all of us here are willing to contribute our thoughts on what the bill would be. VTP: We have with us the person (Gettie) who will be crafting the bill. The bill will be crafted on the basis of the rudiments that we are discussing; but that will be modified as we go through the regional forums. Sa ngayon, wala pang bill. Meron lamang outline na maaring magbago depende sa mga nasasagap nating suggestions and points of view. We are trying to reverse the process of filing a bill. Normally, when a bill is filed in Congress or in the Senate, it comes out of one mind and one background, plus possibly a few

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constituents’ suggestions. Ang aming pag-asa ay ang bill na ito ay bumukal sa mga suggestions ng regional forums. Mila Arroyo: The issue of the RH bill or the Population Development bill ay matagal nang napapagusapan. There is no quarrel on the principles. It is when we get down to the details, duon nagkakaroon ng problema. So maybe we can go directly to the contentious issues. Ang two issues na na-identify ko when we speak of RH and population and development: 1. Do we allow artificial contraception? The government funds artificial contraception, it just does not support that. But the population needs that kasi hindi lahat appropriate sa kanila dahil some will use natural family planning. But what will this bill say on that? 2. Youth sexual education – we want our youth to be informed, but the issue is how do we to get the message across and at what stage do we start the sexual education for our children. Duon nagkabuhol-buhol ang mga issues, kaya we really want to know how this consensus bill would address those issues. VTP: If we could wait a little bit for the second presentation, it contains the principles and objectives, and reference to sexual education. Hindi dito sa segment na ito ng ating forum. Mila Arroyo: I am hoping na mapag-usapan po ‘yun. Regarding the concern on the labor issue, since we are talking in the bill of human development and quality of life, maraming spheres on where we can attack those issues. Hindi siya mare-respond lamang sa sphere ng labor, or sphere ng development. Maraming spheres ang ating tatrabahuhin ang dapat tingnan if we want to attain our objective. Ang objectives ng bill, hindi siya ma-aachieve ng bill lamang kahit nakalagay sa bill. These will not be achieved by the population bill alone. Participant (did not mention name): Based sa presentation, ang cure ay sex education. Pero parang hindi siya na-aangkop na pagtugon sa tinatawag nating intergenerational poverty. Parang lumalabas na napakaliit ng incidence of teenage pregnancy para sabihing ito lamang ba ang kailangan. Or do we need to change the whole education system ng Philippines para education ang mag-aalis ng kahirapan, hindi ang sex education o ang RH education lamang. VTP: We would appreciate any suggestions on the formulation of these objectives.

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Claro Alfonso (Naga City Market Stakeholders Federation): Maganda na ina-aadress ng bill na ito ang poverty para mas ma-solve ang population problem. Hindi ako sang-ayon sa RH bill kasi parang gustong gayahin ang one-child policy ng China. Sa population bill, tama na bigyan ang parents ng education at informed choices, para mas maganda ang mga choices nila. Sa aming mga market vendors at farmers, mas maraming anak mas maganda kasi makakatulong sa family business. Kaya tingin ko mas magandang inaaddress yung poverty para masolve ang population problem. Magdalena Abellera (PopCom Region 5): Napakaganda lagi ng discussion sa usapin ng population dahil sa dami ng dimensions nito. But if we can possibly simplify that the issue on population cannot be isolated from the issues of unemployment, climate change, poverty, maternal health. Tingnan natin ang mga dimensions na iyon at kung paano maipapasok ang mga concerns na kaya lamang i-address ng isang bill like what Senator Paterno has said. I would like to affirm that the situation really demands for an appropriate bill that would respond to the need. Several studies (Young Adult Sexuality and Fertility Survey or YAFFS, NDHS, Family Planning Expenditures Survey, etc.) have already pointed to the positive association or relationship of population and poverty. Paano natin lalabanan ang kahirapan, if we do not address squarely the issue of population. Paano dumadami ang anak, diba sa pagtatalik o sa sex? So why are we not ready to talk about sex? Pag sinabi ng anak mo, “Mama paano ako ginawa?”, how would you explain it? In several instances, and i go back to the basic of teaching the children parts of the body, you can mention, head, paa, kamay, pagdating sa reproductive organ – that’s a flower, that’s a bird. It just shows we are not comfortable about it. Pati ang term na sex education ay controversial, but actually ang gamit naman natin ay sexuality education. For example sa pre-marital sex sa Bicol region, based sa YAFFS: 9.4 in 1994, but in 2004, it has gone up to 23.4. Elementary pa lang sinasabi may boyfriend na ako, etc., but we cannot even talk about sex, about relationships with our parents, especially among the poor. We are talking here of the population most at risk. Also in Bicol region, pre-marital sex is 24% of more or less 415,000 respondents. So are we just going to close our eyes because of the issue of morality? We don’t want to engage in a debate on which one is moral dahil nagiba-iba talaga. But what we are saying is that there is a dire situation calling for a national response. We cannot please everybody from all sectors, but need to agree on at least the basic essentials of the bill.

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Mila Arroyo: On the principles, letter b, is it correct to say that the consensus bill will support making available information on all FP methods and services that the couples will decide to choose after having been informed? And therefore the contentious word there would be “approved” FP method. Who will approve the FP method? Nobody to say if a method is approved or not? Will go back to issue of abortifacient. VTP: The bill will approve the FP method. The approving authority will probably be the DOH. Mila Arroyo: So the bill will not lay down the approved methods? There will be nobody in power to decide whether the method is approved or not? VTP: It will be clear that all legal methods will be made available including artificial contraceptives and NFP methods. Mila Arroyo: So it is clear that there is nobody that will say whether a method is approved or not. There is no such body. VTP: Well, then it can be the DOH. Mila Arroyo: So the DOH will have the power to say that this method is approved, this one is not? VTP: Yes, provided the method is not an abortifacient. Mila Arroyo: So again we go back to that issue of when do we determine if it is abortifacient or not. It is a controversial issue also. VTP: If we try to spell out in this bill what is contraceptive, we are going to be mired in controversy. We leave it up to the authorities, e.g., the DOH to insert the guidelines. Who knows a listing of contraceptives will be obsolete next year. Mila Arroyo: Then maybe it would be helpful to say, “legally approved FP methods.” Then we would need to a law to say that one (a method) is not legally approved.

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VTP: Again, I’m saying that a law should not be frozen because there will be developments as we go along. Mila Arroyo: Yes, but what is legally approved right now, may not be legally approved in the future depending on the action of the legislators. VTP: All legally approved methods of contraception, provided that none of them shall be abortifacient – that’s the guideline of the law. Mila Arroyo: On the strengthening of POPCOM, as you said, the implementing agency should have the necessary authority and power to implement faithfully the law. Right now the problem with POPCOM is, it has been reduced to a mere attached office or agency. Unless it becomes independent, its efficacy will only depend on the efficacy of the department where it is duly attached. VTP: It will be guided by the board. Mila Arroyo: But the board of POPCOM is under that particular agency. VTP: Yes, the DOH, DSWD, etc. will all have inputs into how the policy should be in their respective sector. Mila Arroyo: Yes, but since its power is only recommendatory, they only recommend policies; they cannot even formulate policies. They only recommend policies to the agencies to which it is attached. VTP: No, it will recommend to the board. The board has the power. Mila Arroyo: The board of the POPCOM? VTP: Yes, the board of POPCOM which is composed of different agencies. It becomes a collegial decision. Mila Arroyo: Maybe policy formulation ang POPCOM.

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VTP: POPCOM has a board that supervises policy formulation. One of the policies will be for the board to implement the policies in their respective agencies. Mila Arroyo: That is not how it was presented. The way it was presented is that POPCOM is composed of a board composed of different agencies. VTP: POPCOM is not composed of a board. POPCOM is an agency in itself, but it is subject to the guidance and supervision of a board. I am a businessman, I have a board of directors (BOD). The BOD is limited by the charter or corporate charter of the board. Mila Arroyo: But BOD of what entity? VTP: I am talking about a business corporation. The BOD directs the management on how to do the business. In the same manner, POPCOM will have a BOD. The BOD will be guided by a law. The law says it should be done, so the BOD spells how this will be done. Mila Arroyo: Is the BOD separate from POPCOM? VTP: It is over and above POPCOM. Mila Arroyo: So it is the BOD of the agencies to which POPCOM is attached. VTP: No, it is the BOD composed of the different agencies. Mila Arroyo: But there has to be an entity for this BOD. What is that entity? VTP: POPCOM. Mila Arroyo: But they just recommend policies. VTP: POPCOM will recommend to the board. If the board approves the recommendation, POPCOM implements it. Mila Arroyo: If POPCOM recommends to the board, then whose BOD is it?

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VTP: The BOD of POPCOM. Mila Arroyo: When that board recommends a policy, it will be implemented by POPCOM? So why will it recommend policies to the board, when it is already the board? VTP: POPCOM is not a board. POPCOM is an agency which is supervised by a BOD. Mila Arroyo: And therefore, the BOD is the BOD of POPCOM. A BOD cannot exist as an independent entity. VTP: It is the BOD of POPCOM. The BOD is composed of different agencies or departments. Can you tell me your agency? Mila Arroyo: Im from FPOP, I am also a lawyer so the concept of corporation is not new to me. A BOD cannot exist as an independent entity. It has to be a board of an organization. If the BOD is composed of different agencies, whose board is it? VTP: It is BOD over POPCOM. Does your organization have a board? Does your BOD provide supervision over your organization? Mila Arroyo: Yes, we have a board. But it does not exercise supervision, it is policy making. VTP: Yes, the policies are formulated by the BOD, and implemented by the management. Mila Arroyo: So we are saying that the BOD is the BOD of POPCOM. So when that BOD formulates policies, then the policies will become effective as POPCOM policies. VTP: The policies will be implemented by POPCOM. Mila Arroyo: But, who will approve the policies, is it the board? Yes. So we are saying that POPCOM has a BOD, and the BOD approves the policies, and will be implemented

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by the executive officer of the POPCOM. So why would POPCOM recommend policies, when the BOD is also POPCOM? VTP: Semantically, yes. Mila Arroyo: For as long as we are clear, POPCOM is policy-making body, not a recommendatory body. VTP: Actually, in legal terms we can say that POPCOM sits on the Board. Mila Arroyo: And that will be here (in the bill)? VTP: Yes. This is the law that creates the implementing mechanism for the implementing agency. Mila Arroyo: My next question is, if POPCOM has its own BOD, why does it have to be attached to another agency? VTP: Because there has to be a chairman of the board. Mila Arroyo: Maybe this provision will be reviewed by Atty. Gettie? VTP: Maybe with somebody who is familiar with POPCOM. Oman Jiao: My take is that if you are saying that it will not be attached to any department, then where should it be attached to? Mila Arroyo: It is an independent agency, which has its own BOD, so why should it be attached to any agency. This is one area that POPCOM has always complained about. We are talking of strengthening, so why attach it to another agency. But that is just one of my concerns that if we are going to strengthen POPCOM it should be able to formulate its own policies and not recommend. VTP: I beg to differ. To strengthen POPCOM is to strengthen POPCOM’s implementation, not make decisions.

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Mila Arroyo: I still think otherwise. I also wonder about what you said lately about the BBC. Will this consensus bill be supported by the bishops in the BBC and not just the businessmen in the BBC? Is your group also ready to pursue this as an initiative? VTP: It is a topic that I have to discuss (with the bishops). Of course we will pursue this initiative. Fr.Wilmer Tria (Ateneo De Naga): I see the promise in the process. I’m excited about this. My question is the timeframe. I quote from this book of virtue by Alasdair Maclntyre. He is saying that the tendency of society is to solve a problem brought by advances in technology and sciences; dahil malibog ang tao ang solusyon ay condom at pills. When we strip humanity of science and technology, we find ourselves behaving like animals. ‘Yun ang hinahanap ko sa sex education or whatever education we want to call it – that we should emphasize the virtue of ethics regardless of religion. Ang importante hindi ‘yung solusyon sa vice kundi yung self-restraint or self-control. VTP: That is the reason we want to emphasize responsible parenthood. ‘Yun sana ang maging tugon ng bill. They must first know, then decide, then implement. Not provide them the tools for implementation. Kaya yung distribution will have to be preceded by values education or information so that they make a free and informed choice. On the timeframe, we know that Edcel Lagman will present an RH bill, so we want this presented as another population bill. When? We are talking now of strategic considerations. We don’t know. We are not sure whether to ask a senator to sponsor the bill or another congressman to sponsor the bill. There are pros and cons. If a senator, sino kaya? Si Chiz Escudero? Angara? We don’t know yet, depende sa kanilang frame of mind. When? Before? Soon after? Or at the time when there are congressional deliberations on the RH bill and oppositions start to come out – so here is an alternative. So strategically, we have to think about timing and who will sponsor, and so on. This is the business group and we also have some ideas of how to get something done.

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Bernadette Gumbia: In the implementing mechanisms, everything has been focused on FP. While in the objectives, the bill was referring to FP, in the guiding principles, it was RH. I would like to know whether you are considering both terms as the same. RH is wider in scope than FP, because it does not only include FP, but also pre-natal care, post-natal care, treatment for adolescent mothers, and even mothers who have committed abortion, etc. So I would like to propose if you could specify in the implementing mechanisms the RH rights and services. VTP: During our consultations in Manila with the experts, women organizations were very strong on being explicit about RH. So we are trying to find an alternative term which will be the same as RH without mentioning the term RH. Can you give us other term? Bernadette Gumbia: I would suggest that maybe you enumerate the components of RH like pre-natal care, post-natal care, it’s very long, but i will suggest you consider because FP is only on family size and spacing. If a woman stops giving birth, say at age 50, that is still part of RH care and services, including treatment for adults and mothers, and for those who have committed abortion. VTP: Our draftsperson will take note of that particular suggestion. Oman Jiao: If we cannot come up with a good terminology, maybe you can suggest? Madalena Abellera: If we look at objective 1: to help couples and parents achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood, basic dito ang question na why raise a family or children that you cannot adequately provide for their basic needs. Nakalagay ang responsible parenthood. But in objective 2: improving RH and well being, specifically specifying reduction in maternal and infant mortality. So FP there is addressing death. One element of course of RH is FP, but FP also includes assisting couples who are not fertile and unable to have children. So if we have to specify FP, it is just a small element of RH. Why broader, because we go back to the basics of being responsible parents. And we have already many existing modules on how to become responsible parents.

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Fatima Penino (DILG-Naga City): On the implementing mechanism, letter g, the role of population officers at the municipal and barangay levels. May I comment that not all LGUs have population officers. At the start of devolution, the municipal agricultural officers and social officers were classified as optional officers at the LGUs, and having them appointed as department heads of the LGU. So how can the program on population be strengthened if there is no population officer in the LGU at the municipal to barangay level? My recommendation: why not include in the bill to make the population officer position as mandatory than optional. If optional, it will depend on the decision of the LGU official whether to appoint or not to appoint a population officer. If mandatory, the LGU will create and provide funds for the operation of that office. VTP: Good point. We will take that into consideration. All the requirements and what perks, etc. will be attached to having a population officer. Miracle Bolaños (POPCOM Region 5): We would like to add some information on this provision that in the LGC, the population officer position is optional. If provided in the LGC, paano ang statutory aspect. We are just informing the group, if this is a national program and we implement at the local level, the governor and mayor have differing priorities so this might be a problem if the position is optional. VTP: Yes, we will look up that particular provision. Is the appointment of the population officers tied to financial capability of LGU? In other words, can a 6th class municipality have a population officer? Magdalena Abellera: The LGUs always speak about their funds. In fact in almost all transactions of the government, they avail of funds. Then there are guidelines in the use of the 20% development fund. If the LGC so provides that this position is optional, then we cannot leverage, especially because it is attached to other issues as well like the IRA. If IRA is based on population, they would think that a population program is regulating the number of population. And numbers speak. So among other issues like health, climate change, etc., the population issue is always marginalized.

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VTP: It is a remote possibility, but if a 5th or 6th class municipality cannot afford a population officer, and really the communities are very poor, then the national government will require a population officer and provide the funds. This is where the interplay of the different departments comes in operation within the POPCOM board. The POPCOM BOD members should be interacting among themselves with respect to the population problem. The BOD a coordinating body among the different agencies with respect to population planning. Magdalena Abellera: We are talking here about the POPCOM structure and even of the LGUs. POPCOM like any line agency is an implementing agency. But it has programs/policies na nakaangat sa board of commissioners as a policy governing body. POPCOM as an agency serves as a secretariat. The board of commissioners are the secretaries of the different agencies or departments. So POPCOM recommends to the board. Like now, we have the pre-marriage counselling (one of the new developments), as a requirement for securing a marriage license. Before they are issued a license they have to go through an FP seminar, now this is called pre-marriage counselling. ‘Yung policy nay un ay resulta ng mga pagbabago, kasi ang dami ng batas kagaya ng Family Code, Children’s Rights, etc., so POPCOM recommended this to the board, after a study on the what the contents of pre-marriage counselling would be. So yung board composed of DILG, DOH, merong joint circular on this. So separate talaga ang board. POPCOM is the secretariat to the board, and the board is composed of secretaries of different agencies. Rose Sergio: I have a question on sexuality and RH education. It says here that DepEd/CHED in coordination with appropriate agencies… May I ask what these agencies are? Is this limited to public agencies, or does it include private agencies? My interest is that if there will be a formulation of modules on sexuality and RH education, maybe include representatives from the association of schools, colleges, private schools in the formulation of the contents, specifically as to what extent it should be taught – because this is contentious. VTP: The suggestion is to expand the term appropriate agencies to include relevant and private agencies or organization so that the consultation is not limited to government agencies but also private agencies.

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Rose Sergio: I’m hearing some opposition from some parents regarding sex education. I don’t know if this is viable, but just like in some cases in school where consent of parents is secured, maybe you would like to look into that in sexuality education when some parents would like to oppose the content of the modules. Maybe you can consider securing the parents’ consent first. VTP: Perhaps instead of securing parental consent, we can say giving way to parents. Instead of making it a requirement to get consent from parents before a child can enrol, maybe ask the parents to authorize the child to be part of the class. Miracle Bolaños: On sexuality and RH education, will it also include giving access to parents to sexuality education? Napakalaki ng bulto ng young parents who were not given the opportunity to have sexuality education. It is good if they can be also knowledgeable on this, especially in handling situations where their children are young adults na nasa dangerous situation – ay matulungan psychologically and emotionally. We have millions of teenage mothers in our statistics which says, kung mas poor ang teenager, mas madaling mag-engage sa pre-marital sex; mas less educated mas maagang nag-aasawa, mas maraming anak. VTP: What appropriate agency should take care of this? Miracle Bolaños: This can be linked to the DOH; DSWD – they have mothers’ classes; POPCOM – there is a responsible parenthood movement; DA – i think they also have an integrated approach to this; NGOs also have their own initiative in achieving this kind of program. The Regional Development Council, in their planning, maybe they can have this program from the regional down to the barangay level. VTP: We certainly found out that there are a number of organizations working on this. Perhaps it could bring down a national government effort so that the program is coordinated in the provincial board. Oman Jiao: Do we have data on young parents? Miracle Bolaños: According to the WHO and United Nations, when we say youth, these are 15-24 years old, teenagers - 10-19; young adult - 15-24. Depending on the program

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they are catering, they have their own definition of young adults. We are adopting the UN definition of young people and young parents as 15-24 years. Just to re-affirm the basis of this bill, in the Bicol region – sa naka abot ng elementary, 41 percent of 233,000 ay nanay na; kung sino ang nakapag-elementary lamang, 43 percent sa kanila ay nanganganak na at patuloy na nanganganak; samantalang yung nakapag-highschool, 24 percent nung 233,000 na young parent in 2000. So ganon ka-alarming ang situation. Yung mas mahirap na grupo, based on the NDHS, sa 15-24 years old, 46 percent sa kanila ay nanganganak na. Yung anak ng mayaman o medyo mayaman, mga 12 percent lamang ang nanganganak na. So consistent ito sa inyong ipini-present. Pati yung mga nasa rural areas, marami sa kanila ang nagsimula nang manganak, nasa 23% compared to 21% sa urban areas. So yun ang mga areas kung saan we recommend na ang mga parents na ito, ay mabigyan din ng sexuality education as a preventive measure so we will have a next generation of children who will be capable of addressing this kind of situation. VTP: Thank you for the information. Can we get copies of the data para mai-input naming dito sa bill? Magdalena Abellera: Yes. Yung data na sinabi ay nanggagaling sa mga surveys so meron tayo up to the regional level. But if we go down to provincial, halos wala na. So if your concern is if all other regions have data, yes they have. For the Bicol region, we just extracted this particular data kasi nga masyadong controversial ang sexuality education. Dala naming itong data kasi a policy is a response to a particular need. Kaya inalam namin. VTP: Siguro kailangang isangguni ito sa DepEd because teachers have a role here. Magdalena Abellera: If I may add, a PopDev education module for catholic schools. Yung sa DepEd meron nga sila pero subject to testing and various consultations in the past. Emily Saulon (Naga City Women Council): Would it be possible for the group to consult the religious group? Although we believe in the separation of church and state and the freedom of religion as stated in the Constitution, napaka influential ng church sa pag-

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aadvocate ng issue na ito. Hindi lang Catholic ang majority ng religion dito sa Pilipinas, pwede rin naman matanong ang Iglesia kung ok ba sila sa bill na ito. This is to ensure that the bill is very substantive, not a class legislation kasi we conducted a consultation with them. VTP: In one of the executive committee meeting of the BBC, I was suggested to visit the chairman of the Family and Life Episcopal Commission of CBCP. Accordingly, I visited Arch. Paciano Aniceto of San Fernando. He said, I would like you to have some congressmen who are known to be sympathetic to the church as sponsors of this bill. In other words, this is just to make sure that there is no booby trap that is hidden. I also committed to consult with Lito Saldejas – who is a very ardent advocate of the Catholic Church. This is an open thing. We are trying to consult with bishop Tindero of the United Evangelical Churches. We haven’t consulted with the Iglesia ni Kristo, but with protestant groups who are involved in these consultations. As a matter of fact, we are going to be consulting with the Muslim population in Mindanao. We want this to be a national consensus. It is not a bill for any church or any particular faith, it is a bill for the people. If there is opposition, at least we know where the opposition is. So we are looking for an RH synonym which will insinuate, but will not arouse too much opposition to it. RH is already a red flag. Representative of Coalition for Bicol Development: I would like to know if this bill, like the CARP law, ay may kasamang funding sa GAA.

VTP: Walang kasama sa ngayon na appropriation. And the reason is the appropriations should really come from the different departments, e.g., DOH for the devices, DepEd for the sexuality education, DSWD for population education, etc.

Coalition for Bicol Development: Hindi kaya may problema kung sa budget nila kasi yung different departments may kanya-kanyang priorities. Baka magaya sa agricultural projects, walang funding.

VTP: Totoo yun, kaya we will not leave this bill to languish even after approval because this is a long-term legislation and it will not necessarily be supported by elected officials,

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but by the business community, NGOs and other concerned organizations. That is why we wanted this to be a national forum.

Putting in appropriation makes it a subject of annual negotiations. You cannot appropriate for a long-term, but on a year-by-year basis. Agrarian reform is a good instance. Unfortunately public support on agrarian reform only comes in crucial stages; it is not a continuing thing. This is why we would like to have POPCOM become, in the implementing mechanism, a part of the board so that they can coordinate their activities and even support these activities, including a budget in their respective departments.

Emily Saulon: On appropriations, mahirap na walang mandate ng law kahit sabihin natin na may mga kanya-kanyang ahensiya naman na kasali sa board ng POPCOM. Is it not possible to include a mandate on appropriation like the GAD budget, where a certain percentage of your budget should be used for population concerns, but it should be included as one of the provisions (of the law).

On the objective – the importance of education. It was stressed that there will be coordination with DepEd, CHED and the private schools in order to come up with appropriate modules. Pero sinasabi din kanina na malaking porsiento ng mga kabataan ang hindi nakakarating sa pormal na edukasyon, but they get into marriage. At sila yung mas maraming anak. Sa katolikong simbahan, merong tinatawag na pre-cana seminar na binibigyan sila ng tamang impormasyon sa tamang pagpapamilya. Hindi ko alam kung may module ito.

Sa opisina ng mga Rural Health Unit, bago mag-apply ng lisensiya yung mga magpapakasal, meron din silang pre-marriage counselling. I don’t know if this is mandatory. Can we not come up, aside from the learning modules for the schools, with another module for those who will be entering marriage kahit na anong simbahan, katoliko man o hindi, na this will be one of the requirements in marriage.

Magdalena Abellera: Mandatory na ‘pag nagpakasal, you get a marriage license only when you attend marriage counselling, regardless of religion. Except kung educated na sila, like yung mga doctors, hindi na sila kailangang mag-undergo nito. But not all couples are legally married, may mga live-in. Kung hindi sila nag-apply ng license, paano sila naka-capture for this counselling. Kaya yung mga programs ng various line agencies, e.g., DSWD-mothers class, DOLE, NYC, TESDA, etc. pwede silang ma-capture. Ito ang

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mga ginagawa ngayon ng POPCOM as a coordinating agency. Yung mga concerns na iyon ini-elevate sa Board of Commissioners. In fact, ang mga LGUs malaki ang revenue nila for that.

Theresa De Alban (CHED): On sexuality education, in CHED we floated a memo to integrate this. We are doing this in our extension services, and one is the health education. Pero yung requirement before marriage, sa Catholic lang naman yata ito, di naman ginagawa sa ibang religion. Kasi kung effective ito, we need to sustain this strategy. Another thing, maybe we can include also professional organizations like the Philippine Nurses Association.

Teresa Nuñez (Mayor’s Office, Legaspi): FYI on the suggestion for LGUs to fund population officers position sa local level. Meron ng population officers program sa City Health Office ng Legaspi at permanent/plantilla position. We have 8 Population Program Officers.

Pastor Villarin (Pilar, Sorsogon/LGU): Sa pagkakasal, may age bracket: 18 years old to below 21 – under parental consent; 21 years old below 24 – need parental advice; 25 years old and above – puwede na silang ikasal even without parents’ advice. Pag nagsama ng 5 years and above, at ang edad ay more than 23, pwede ng ikasal without seminar. Walang seminar ang common law husband and wife at live-in partners, at marami din sila.

Kami bilang interfaith leaders sa Pilar at sa Legaspi, we need to support responsible parenthood, kasama ang pagmulat ng parents on how to manage their home, not only on the sexual aspect, but also time, money and relationship. Huwag ninyong kalilimutan ang mga pastor at pari sa mga paghalaw ng ideas.

Arnulfo Carandang (DOH): Sa sexuality education, sa modalities ba ay kasama ang inventory of skills at capability as indicators? Kung tatawagin na sex education, nasa-shock ang iba. Kung sa highschool, ang biology subject is a good forum for discussing this, bakit kailangan pang tawagin itong sex education? Sa elementary, anong subjects ang pwede? Often enough, hindi tayo comfortable in saying sex, kaya we create problems kung tawagin pang sex ed. I think this is not new, birds do it - so it’s ordinary so kung pwede yung capacity naman ang tingnan natin. We may have a lot of modules but we may have a problem in knowledge and capacity in teaching this. Tingnan natin halimbawa sa health sector na nagtuturo ng RH how to communicate.

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Cristina Lim (Ateneo De Naga): Sa learning module, when we refer to sex we refer to the biological aspect only. Sa YAFFS, this is not only the biological aspect, even the gender dimension, friendship, how mothers relate to their child ay kasama. We conducted a study on the engagement of the youth in pre-marital sex. This was part of YAFFS 2002-2003 and we were asked to do a deeper study. Please give us your email addresses to give you a copy on what to incorporate in preparing the module.

On the budget, even yung sa GAD budget, we found out that this is not being implemented even in the 4th-5th class municipalities; kaya ano ang assurance na kung may appropriation o pondo e mai-implement yan?

CLOSING REMARKS OF MR. VICENTE T. PATERNO

I know that there are a number of features that each one would like to include in the bill. But a law can get smothered in details. To my mind, a law should provide policy directions and implementing mechanisms. To try to spell out everything is impossible.

The problem with a lot of laws is that it solved the problems of the past, but it is not equipped to cope with the problems of the future. If we establish policy, and we establish implementing mechanisms, we should be content with that. But that does not mean to say that we leave it like that. The various NGOs, organizations concerned on population need to keep supporting the effort.

I like the idea of a joint steering committee – we have 3 organizations (kahit wala na yung BBC) who are committed to support this bill, not only in legislation but also in implementation. The tendency of businessmen is results. It is nice to see something that goes in the papers, but then it is forgotten. We need a law to be pursued, implemented and monitored. We are committed to monitor, to see that the bill is passed. We will also formulate committees within our respective organizations to monitor how this is going.

Marami na ang nagsabi na ningas cogon tayong mga Pilipino. Napakagaling natin sa planning pero napakahina sa execution. One of the models to my mind is the British Constitution, which is not written. It’s traditional, but it is supported by the people. Our Constitution of 1987 is already obsolete, and they want to do it again. It suffers from too many provisions. It is a reactive constitution. I would not want us to have a reactive bill. I would like to ask us to have a bill that will be implemented for a number of years. We

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cannot solve all the problems in one piece of legislation, but we need commitment to pursue the activity.

So ang hamon ko sa atin, let us not stop even if the bill is passed. Let us try to get it implemented, and implemented properly. I don’t have too many years to live, but whatever years I have, I would devote here.

My suggestion is to get the emails of everyone so we can give them the minutes of this forum and if they wish, the minutes of other forums so that you can see how the attitudes and perspectives of Cebu differ from Naga, Cagayan De Oro, Baguio, etc. We want you to see na hindi tayo nag-iisa. Can we link up to each other so that we are not functioning all by ourselves?

Back in the 1960s, a Pakistani told me when I was then entering government, “Mr. Paterno can you tell me this - Why is it that the Filipinos individually are superior to other Asians, but you put 10 Filipinos together, they are inferior to other Asians?”

We do not know how to work with one another. If we can only change that kind of attitude we will be one great nation.

***

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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON A CONSENSUS BILL ON POPULATION June 09, 2010 I 9:00am – 12:00nn

Avenue Hotel, Naga City

ACADEME

1. Marivic Balance Director Center for Social Responsibility Naga Collge Foundation

2. Bernadette Gumba Associate Professor Social Sciences Ateneo de Naga University

3. Flor Jenkin Professor and Alumni Relations Officer

Bicol University

4. Cristina Lim Director Ateneo Social Science Research Ateneo De Naga

5.Lauro Lleno Deputy Director Ateneo Social Science Research Ateneo De Naga

6.Marissa Trinidad Director MNC-ICES University of Nueva Caceres

7. Teodoro Husain St. Bridget School 8. Rose Banay Asst. Campus Minister Divine Word College

Legaspi 9. Maria Rose Sergio Faculty, SocSci Ateneo de Naga 10. Fr. Wilmer Tria Chair, Philo Ateneo de Naga 11. Mila Raquip-Arroyo Chair, USIC Ateneo de Naga

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

1. Claro Alfonso President Naga City Market Stallholders Federation

2. Marlon Ragragio Project Manager-LED Metro naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry

GOVERNMENT

1. Magdalena Abellera PopCom Region 5 2. Ma. Anneli Alejo PopCom Region 5

3. Gemma Robles PopCom Region 5

4. Nanette Broma PopCom Region 5

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5. Miracle Bolanos PopCom Region 5

6. Teresita Del Castillo PopCom Region 5

7. Joy Macaraig City Population and Nutrition Office Naga City

8. Fatima Penino City Director DILG Region 5 9. Theresa De Alban OIC SEPS/ESH CHED No. V 10. Theresa Nunez Planning Officer IV Mayor’s Office Legaspi 11. Arnulfo Carandang DOH-CHD 12. Evangeline Paulino DOH-PHO CS

NGOS/POS/COOPS

1. Dante Almoguera Board of Director Camarines Norte Sustainable Development Network (CAMSDEV)

2. Joy Banares OIC Coalition for Bicol Development

3. Stephanie Betiz Program Officer ASCODE Foundation 4. Azucena Bien Chapter Program

Manager Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP)-Camarines Sur Chapter

5. Nelia Sapalicio President Barangay People’s Council Federation

6. Emily Saulon Coordinator Naga City Women Council (NCCW)

7. Johann dela Rosa Program Director Naga City People’s Council

8. Teresita Lalas Federation President Family Welfare Club 9. Danilo Ludovice President Naga City Urban Poor

Federation 10. Corazon Milano Vice President Lakas ng Kababaihan 11. Christopher Molin President Naga City Federation of

Persons with Disabilities 12. Ver Panambo Staff PRRM 13. Dave Isidore Plopinio Peer Councilor FPOP-Camarines Sur

Chapter 14. Dante Bismonte Area Manager Philippine Rural

Reconstruction Movement

15. Salve Cadag Project Coordinator Community Organization of Philippine Enterprise Foundation, Inc. (COPE)

16. Glenda Dasco Chairperson Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas (KALIPI)-Naga Chapter

17. Ester Lastrilla Community Organizer Lingap para sa Kalusugan

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ng Sambayana (LIKAS) 18. Fe A. De los Reyes Executive Director Help Learning Center

Foundation, Inc. 19. Christopher Molin President Naga City Federation of

Persons with Disabilities 20. Nelia Sapalicio President Barangay People’s

Council Federation 21. Ramiro Samar President Coca-Cola Workers Union 22. Antonio Altamarino Jr. Chairman MADC 23. Ramon Lacson Lim Board Director NCPC 24. Pany P. Breboneria President Barlin Irrigation

Association 25. Servillano Intia Vice President Naga City Senior Citizen’s

Federation 26. Evelyn Ubaldo Regional Coordinator Visayan Forum

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS

1. Rev. Fr. Nelson B. Tria

Executive Director Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc.

2. Stanley Lee Daccon Ecclessiastical Asst. Bicol CLC, Zone 6 Pamukid, San Fernando Camarines Sur

3. Leonor B. Banan Formator Bicol CLC 4. Job P. Villarin Chair Interfaith-Bicol 5. Fr. Jeffrey John B.

Briones Assistant Director CAFAFI