- Future leaders are urged to prioritize the implementation of Reproductive Health Law
- Health advocates say the implementation of RH Law requires strong political will
- Advocates added that the election is an opportunity for the RH Law champions
Future leaders were urged by reproductive health advocates to prioritize the implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law; noting that such law could be implemented successfully if there is strong political will.
“The national and local governments should make RH Law implementation a top priority. This means formulating programs that will provide access to RH information and services, including family planning commodities and age-appropriate sex education, and allocating sufficient budget for their implementation,” the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) Executive Director Romeo C. Dongeto said, as quoted by Manila Bulletin.
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012 or Republic Act No. 10354 was enacted on December 21, 2012. The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were signed on March 15, 2013 in Baseco, Tondo. It was noted that the implementation of RH Law needs strong political will of the leaders; considering that the law faces relentless challenge from anti-RH forces, including the Catholic Church.
Meanwhile, former health secretary Esperanza Cabral stressed that reproductive health is a fundamental human right that the government should fulfill.
“It is primarily the government’s responsibility to uphold RH as part of our country’s commitment to various international agreements recognizing RH as a fundamental human right. Elected officials are bound by law to fulfill this commitment and meaningfully implement the RH Law,” Cabral said.
Moreover, Cabral said the 2016 elections is an opportunity for the champions of reproductive health.
“The 2016 elections is an opportune time that we use our power to make those who subvert our right to reproductive health like Senator Tito Sotto pay for their crime and vote for candidates who champion RH,” she said. It can be recalled that senators Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto and Loren Legarda were behind the P1 billion cut on the 2016 budget for family planning.
“The RH struggle continues until we see the full fruition of our decade-long effort to pass the RH Law. The 2016 election is upon us and we must use this opportunity to win the fight for Filipino women and families,” Cabral stated.
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