Condoms: A good business with social impact

I attended a population forum headed by Benjie de Leon and Dr. Alberto Romualdez Jr. at the Asian Institute of Management recently. The event, hosted by the Forum for Family Planning and Development, wanted to underscore the impending threat that could bring about irreparable damages to the country if we do not address the issue of a weak population and family planning program. Former president Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) was the main speaker at the forum, and in his usual style, FVR delivered a lively, occasionally humorous speech.

At the forum, it was revealed that this country is about to lose 80 percent of its contraceptive supply, mainly because the USAID stopped giving condoms and contraceptive donations in 2003. Since 1970, USAID had extended an average of $17 million a year to assist in the country’s family planning program, of which $3 million a year had been slated for contraceptives. But government is not doing anything to offset this loss and in fact, has even publicly declared that not a single centavo will be spent to cover the shortfall.

According to FVR, without an adequate supply of contraceptives, the population will likely double in 20 years. The current population is pegged at 86 million to 90 million, but it could balloon to 180 million in 15 to 20 years, instead of the projected 30 years. What happens then? The figures are grim: The number of uneducated and unemployed Filipinos will double, increasing the number of those living below the poverty line. Instead of 225 kids dying everyday because of poverty-related diseases as revealed by UNICEF, the number will shoot up to 450.

Our friend Peter Wallace pointed out that the Philippines has the potential to grow at nine percent – something which this administration wants – but whatever growth the economy may have will not translate into a better quality of life for Filipinos as quickly as it could if we do not put a brake on the population growth rate. "The growth of more people into the economy is just more that can be provided for: education, health, jobs, even food, they just can’t keep up. The Philippines needs a sensible family planning system that gives people informed choice and helps them with the choice they make."

There’s no question we really have to manage the number of people in this country. But since the USAID had stopped donating contraceptives, there’s definitely a vacuum. We have to rely on ourselves and not just depend on donors or donations to help us out. As FVR said, any self-respecting nation should be as self reliant as possible, especially in areas as fundamental as family planning services. The population is expected to grow rapidly, and there are many women who now want access to contraceptives. They want their partners to wear condoms, not only to manage the number of children in their household but to make sure that they are protected from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

There’s a great opportunity for businessmen – especially those who believe in this cause – to start looking into the viability of manufacturing condoms because there’s going to be a market for at least 30 to 40 million males for the next 10 years. They should look at this as a business opportunity that will at the same time have a strong social impact. What more can one ask, when companies always look for activities that will embody the principle of corporate social responsibility? What a great opportunity! Not only is it a viable business, but it will also help the country.

If one were to go by the response of Team Unity spokesman Tonypet Albano and the Genuine Opposition’s Adel Tamano when I asked them their position on the issue of population management at our Rotary meeting, it looks like you can’t depend on these politicians. Both were willy-nilly about the issue and half and half with their answers. It’s the private sector that we need to count on to take up the slack. Besides, businessmen themselves need to use condoms. I’m pretty sure they want to practice safe sex.

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Mike A: Lucky to be alive

Ramon Jacinto, a close family friend of the Arroyos, told me the other day that there was no question Mike was just five minutes away from death. Apparently, when they brought Mike to the St. Luke’s hospital, the doctor who looked into him sort of already told the family that there was a slim chance that he was going to make it, and didn’t want to operate so they had to get another doctor. The operation for a dissecting aortic aneurysm is very delicate. The only amount of time for the brain not to have any blood is as long as 15 minutes. Doctors had to perform a triple bypass because Mike’s arteries were clogged, and they had to stop blood circulation in his entire body during the operation. There could have been a rupture, and only 50 percent of people survive a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

Mike is lucky to be alive. His decision to withdraw the libel cases merely shows that there are more important things in this life than to be sensitive to criticism. Nonetheless, some of these media people who refuse to look at it that way simply don’t see the point. Mike withdrew the cases as part of his own self renewal with his new lease on life. No further unkind comment from the media was necessary.

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