Related Literature -Rh Bill

The link between population growth and economic development was the subject of intense research from the 1960s to the 1980s. A common view was that rapid population growth – of two percent or higher per year then prevailing in many developing countries – was more likely to hinder than foster economic development. This negative effect operates via reduced child care and human capital investment, lower household savings for private and public investments, and constraints on allocative efficiency, entrepreneurship and innovation. Rapid population growth results in available capital being thinly spread among many workers, as well as in fiscal and environmental externalities (Pernia, et al. 2004). The House Bill No. 5043, more commonly known as the Reproductive Health Bill of 2008, which is in substitution to House Bill Nos. 17 (Adolescent Reproductive Health), 812 (Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development), 2753 (Women's Right to Know Act) and 3970 (Bill Enhancing the Philippines’ Labor Dispute Settlement System) was introduced during the first regular session of the 14th Congress by Honorable(s) Edcel C. Lagman, Janette L. Garin, Narciso D. Santiago III, Mark Llandro Mendoza, Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel and Elandro Jesus F. Madrona. Currently the country has 88.7 million people from 60.7 million people in year 1991. This rate makes the Philippines the 12th most populous nation in the globe. The fertility rate of Filipino women is estimated to be at 3.05% which is at the upper bracket of 206 countries. It is estimated that four babies are born every minute. If this rate continues, the population of the Philippines will balloon to 130.2 million in the next 20 years.

The bill does not only seek to limit the population, it also provides for population development that aims to help couples or parents achieve their fertility rate, improve reproductive health, reduce incidence of teenage pregnancy, contribute to policies