PopCom-7 aims increase in contraceptive use rate

CEBU, Philippines - Following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to fully implement the Reproductive Health Law, the Population Commission-7 now wants to step up the contraceptive prevalence rate in Central Visayas.

 "Among gipahingusgan karon subay sa direktiba sa President na iyang gi-pronounce adtong SONA (State of the Nation Address) nga mapataas nato ang atoang contraceptive prevalence rate diri sa Central Visayas," said PopCom-7 director lawyer Bruce Ragas.

Contraceptive prevalence is defined as the percentage of women who are currently using, or whose sexual partner is currently using, at least one method of contraception, regardless of the method used.

With the full implementation of the RH Law soon, couples and women will now have several family planning methods to choose from, said Ragas.

"Ang atoang mga couples and kababainhan would have now the opportunity to select from those daghan nga pamaagi sa pag-manage sa atoang mga pamilya, birth control, ingon ana," he explained.

He said they now also have a budget for demand generation, a project that aims to educate people in the barangay level on responsible parenthood and family planning. He said they are reaching out to the beneficiaries of the government's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Ragas said that it has been proven through studies that couples who have several children tend to fall on the category of low income families. This could be because of the lack of education and job opportunities, he said.

"So mao ni, ang Population Management Program is in coordination with the programs of other government agencies like education, employment, ug uban pa na mga serbisyo sa gobyerno. Dili sya stand-alone na programa sa gobyerno," he added.

Ragas said adverse reactions would be expected with the full implementation of the RH Law.

"In fact, sa atoang initial implementation ani nga balaod, usa sa mga oposisyon ani ang pag-file sa petition sa Supreme Court against Implanon. So expected duna g'yu'y adverse reactions as we implement the full implementation of the law as ordered by the President," Ragas explained.

Implanon is a matchstick-sized rod that is inserted in the arm to prevent pregnancy.

For pro-life advocate Rene Josef Bullecer, national director of Human Life International, the government cannot fully implement the RH Law unless the temporary restraining order barring the Department of Health from acquiring and distributing the contraceptive product Implanon is lifted.

He said the government should respect the Supreme Court decision.

Furthermore, Bullecer said people should not entertain the so-called "contraceptive mentality." "Ten years from now, we would have a zero percent population because of the mentality of having one or two children is enough and having many children is a burden," he said.

"Dili unta nato iapil ang atong kaprobrehon just because we are over populated or we are too many. Wa g'yud na'y labot nganong probre ta. The reason why we are poor is not because we are too many; we have to tell people about it. Number one cause is although not in order, poor agricultural advancement, mass urbanization, people from provinces go to urban areas, bad politics, graft and corruption, although I believe ma-minimize ni under the admin of President Rody Duterte, which I am positive about," he added.

He said that every leader should remember that human resource is very important in order to have a sustainable work or labor force.

Symbolic babies

Also yesterday, PopCom-7 celebrated the second birthday of the Symbolic 100 Millionth Babies in collaboration with the Department of Health-7, National Nutrition Council and PhilHealth.

PopCom has been continuously monitoring the first 1,000 crucial days of life of these symbolic babies nationwide.

These babies were born during the time when the nation reached its 100 million population.

Two babies from Cebu, one from Bohol, two from Negros Oriental and one from Siquijor celebrated their second birthday yesterday.

The NNC, PhilHealth and DOH provided for the health care and other developmental needs of the babies.

Dr. Parolita Mission, nutrition program coordinator of the NNC, shared her insights with the parents especially to the mothers of the symbolic babies.

Mission also shared her concerns on fastfood products that are getting readily available and increasingly affordable. She said parents should keep guard against pervasive marketing that targets children. (FREEMAN)