(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/121003-phili-family-140a.photoblog600.jpg)Erik De Castro / ReutersMothers with their babies at a ward of Jose Fabella maternity hospital in Manila Sept. 12.By Karen Lema, ReutersMANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Benigno Aquino is squaring off against his country's powerful Catholic church in a bid to give people free access to the means to limit the size of their families.
The predominately Catholic country has one of Asia's fastest-growing populations together with significant levels of chronic poverty. While neighbors have accelerated towards prosperity, the Philippines has lagged.
Economists say high population growth is a primary factor for that, but the church disagrees. It says population growth is not a cause of poverty and that people need jobs, not contraception.
Follow @NBCNewsWorld (http://twitter.com/NBCNewsWorld) Aquino, a Catholic like 80 percent of the population, has thrown his support behind a reproductive health bill that will, if passed by the two houses of Congress, guarantee access to free birth control and promote intercourse education.
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