Two-kid limit in RH bill

I was shocked by the report yesterday that the Reproductive Health Bill also sets a limit of two children per spouse.

In short, the measure encourages couples to restrict their offsprings to only two. And they don’t even claim to state which gender should the two be – a girl or a boy.

In short, the government maintains the right to cut down the number of children for a couple to only two. And that is supposed to balance population growth.

In short, that is being used as an excuse for the use of contraceptives.

These are just some of the things that the opposition has failed to harp on. They just talk about abortion without putting in place what are those concoctions which until now are passed off as medicines.

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The discovery Sunday of the remains of a radio broadcaster in the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao Province alarmed the country’s journalists and led to questions about government’s avowed determination to put a stop to further diminution of the role of press freedom by cracking down on the killing of journalists.

Soldiers recovered the decomposing remains of Eddie Jesus Apostol five days after the broadcasters family had reported him missing.

While the motives for the killing of Apostol was not immediately clear usually such attacks on journalists infringed on their work as practicing news media workers.

Apostol, it reports said, was also a treasure hunter.

Nestor Burgos, chair of the Media watchdog of the Union of Journalists of the Philippines said we always considered journalists killing as work related.

Apostol reportedly started his 30-minute once a week radio program only two months ago.

He was the sixth journalist killed in the Philippines this year. Four of the others were considered to have been killed because of their work, said NUJP secretary general Rowena Paraan.

The Philippines has gained notoriety as the most dangerous place in the world for mediamen. A total of 153 journalists have been killed in the Philippines as in pursuit of their profession since 1986.

The worst incident was the slaying of 33 media workers in the 2009 murder of 57 people in Maguindanao. The charges against the Ampatuan family remains the subject of a prolonged court case which has remained unresolved until now.

Lately, former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and his brother, Mario, a town mayor, were reported missing after the issuance of a court warrant for their arrest.

The case involves the murder of Joel Ortiga a Palawan environmentalist and radio broadcaster.

The Reyes brothers have reportedly flown out of the country to Vietnam.

Both are still unaccounted for. So with Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan who is wanted for the disappearance of activists.

One must admit that it is difficult to challenge Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. on his programs and policies.

This may be the reason why the governor had issued his challenge to Vice Governor Genero (Lim-ao) Alvarez to debate on the issue of governance and the refusal by the provincial board to approve his loan proposal for the First Negros Occidental Cyber Center in Bacolod.

Board member Salvador Escalante, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan finance committee, said the First Cyber Center project, when completed, aspects to provide employment of some 5,250 call center agents or business process outsourcing jobs.

That would reportedly give them P14-billion in salaries over a 15-year period, Escalante said.

At the same time, Escalante said, five call centers have already signified interest in renting space at the province cyber center.

This will mean an additional P50-million during the first year alone and further increase three years after so that the project will enable the province to repay the loan in 10 years time.

Incidentally, Marañon is an engineer. Thus, when he introduces a project he undertakes the necessary homework, including facts and figures which are difficult to challenge.

On the other hand, Escalante also suggested that the governor negotiate with the Philippine National Bank for the use of its vacant spaces to house three capitol departments.

Now that is a reasonable alternative, to cut down the cost of renovation, although from the engineering point of view, that normally becomes a highly debatable question.

Still, Escalante has a point. If it means a savings of P50-million more for a loan, and still accommodate the three capitol officers, then, perhaps, the governor may consider it a feasible option.*

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