joint statement of ateneo and UP professors : Pass The RH Bill Now

PASS THE RH BILL NOW

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 on going 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.

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 andIndustrial 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, UPDiliman
• 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 Centerfor 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 CommunityDevelopment, 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 DilimanConchitina 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 DilimanDedina A. Lapar, Associate Professor, Department of History, UP Diliman
• Ma. Mercedes G. Planta, Associate Professor, Department of History, UP DilimanWalter 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

source : http://www.scribd.com/doc/51353213/Statement-of-Individual-UP-and-ADMU-Faculty-in-Support-of-HB-4244-23-March-2011-10-a-m

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