MANILA , the Philippines ( CNN ) -- A debate is stirring in the predominantly Roman Catholic country of the Philippines : should the government provide contraceptives to the public ? Sheila Villanueva , a 25-year-old maid with five children , said she would not use contraceptives . More than 100 members of the House of Representatives have co-authored a bill that would allow government funds to be used to promote artificial contraceptives -- which is now prohibited in the Southeast Asian nation . `` The bill is not about religion . It is not about morality , '' said Edcel Lagman , a congressman . `` It 's about rights , health and sustainable human development . '' Some one-third of the country 's 90 million people live in poverty . The Asian Development Bank said that problem will persist until the country curbs its birth rate -- one of the highest in the world . The nationwide Pulse Asia Poll found nearly two-thirds of people support the bill . But the Catholic Church is fiercely opposed , and is pressuring lawmakers to vote against it . `` Why should we use contraceptives , teaching our children the use of contraceptives , '' said Ed Sorreta of Pro-Life Philippines . `` It 's totally against the teaching of the Catholic Church . The poverty is really caused by other issues , moral values . '' `` When you talk about natural family planning , it needs discipline , that 's where many couples fail . They lack the discipline . '' Abortion is illegal in the Philippines , except in cases to save a mother 's life . But the United Nations estimates that half a million illegal abortions are performed in the country every year . Sheila Villanueva , a 25-year-old maid earning $ 2 a day , has five children . `` I married at eighteen . I had my first baby by the time I was nineteen . Then the babies came , one after the other , '' she said . `` Life is so hard , kids get sick easily , prices of goods are so high . That 's one of the reasons why I do n't want them to have too many kids , '' she said . Still , Villanueva said she would not use contraceptives . `` Even if they say you 'll end up with too many kids , I do n't get swayed by their persuasions , I wo n't use those contraceptives , '' she said . The legislation will go before the nation 's Congress in the next few months . `` This bill , once it becomes a law , it will give information and access to those who want it , '' Lagman said . `` But I will also underscore that central to this bill is the freedom of choice . ... ( W ) e compel women to make their own choices . '' `` ( T ) he government should be there to give them free information and free access to the products , particularly to the poorer of the poor , '' he added .
More than 100 lawmakers back a bill to use government funds for education . A spokesman says the bill is about sustainable human development , not money . Some one - third of the country 's 90 million people live in poverty . The bill says the country has one of the world 's highest birth rates .