EDITORIAL:

A condomless society

Great if, by virtue of being an island, we can shun ourselves from the rest of the world and declare that the condom is of no consequence to us. While the entire world searches for a cure to Aids and the use of condom is deemed a necessary preventive response, we prefer to remain out of the equation. While the world’s food resources are dwindling in the face of a bourgeoning population, ours is not necessarily the case. Yes our population growth rate, at around 5% per annum, may be much higher than the national average but we still have forests to clear to pave way for new settlements. Damn the next generation if they don’t enjoy whatever remaining natural resources we still have today.
If AIDS and HIV are a problem for the rest of the world but not for us, we might not care less about the condom. It probably has a more fitting use as air balloons to adorn our pious celebrations.
Puerto Princesa City is pro-life, or so the current administration has unilaterally declared. The City Health office has stopped distributing condoms and the administration wants the health department to stop shipping to us those cartons of lubricated rubber. It doesn’t matter if the end users bear no moral burden using the gadget to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The City simply does not want us to be using condoms. Period.
Actually one can still buy condoms in the pharmacy or commercial stores. But they are not within reach of those who need them most, the rural folks who don’t come to the City and have no pesos to spare for less essential needs as food, shelter and clothing. The DOH has been trying to meet their needs but the City has actively intervened to cut this source of free condoms.
Without a comprehensive policy response to the population question, HIV-AIDS and other problems associated with population growth, the City government is giving the pro-life idea a bad rub that it does not deserve. It is not enough that we pontificate on the sin of ejaculating in a rubber and throwing it away. The condom happens to be serving a moral purpose, that of preventing the more debilitating social problem of AIDS and population explosion.
If the City government’s pro-life posturing is simply a declaration of moral or religious preference, it is its choice. But to impose such morality however on the entire population is bordering on fascism. Much more when there is nothing offered as an alternative.   ^ Top