Surveys: Voters prefer candidates who support family planning

Saturday, 13 March 2010 12:47 PM Fidelis Angela Tan

Two new surveys by Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations (SWS) show that more voters prefer candidates who will support a national family planning program.

According to the February 21-25 Pulse Asia survey, which was commissioned by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), 75% of voters would support a candidate who includes family planning in his or her agenda. In addition, around 6 out of 10 Filipinos, or 64% would rather vote for a candidate who promotes the use of contraceptives.

In comparison, only 6% said they would not vote for a candidate who advocated family planning. 30% said they were undecided, or did not believe the issue would significantly sway their vote.

When asked if they thought using artificial methods of family planning such as the use of pills, Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), ligations and condoms was sinful, as is the stance of the Catholic Church, 51% disagreed. On the other hand, 29% agreed that artificial methods were sinful, while 20% were undecided.

The survey also showed that 87% of voters believed that the government should allot funds for the public distribution of contraceptives. Only 4% said they did not agree to this, while 10% were undecided.

The SWS survey, which was chartered by the Forum for Family Planning and Development and tackled people’s views on candidates supporting the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, found that 38% of respondents would vote for someone who supported the controversial bill.

Only 6% said that they would not support an RH Bill advocate, while the rest were undecided or were unaware of the bill.

The RH Bill or House Bill 5043 seeks to make knowledge of and means for natural and artificial birth control accessible to Filipinos. Among its stipulations are sex education for students, and making contraceptives like condoms available for free.

The Catholic Church and other groups have been vocal against the passage of the bill, pushing some candidates to withdraw support for it.

Among the nine presidential candidates, five are supportive of a national family planning law – Senator Ninoy Aquino, Senator Richard Gordon, Senator Jamby Madrigal, Jesus is Lord founder Brother Eddie Villanueva, and environmentalist activist Nicanor Perlas.

Senator Manny Villar and councilor John Carlos de los Reyes are both heavily against the bill while administration bet Gilbert Teodoro Jr. says that family planning is not the foremost component in addressing poverty in the Philippines.

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