FVR urges Duterte: Implement RH law
In an open letter to Duterte, Ramos and RH advocates reminded Duterte that in his State of the Nation Address, he mentioned that the RH law “must be put into force and effect.” “We ask for your intervention to mandate for the full implementation of the RH before time runs out. Full implementation of the law will not only safeguard the health and save the lives of thousands of women and children, but will also reduce poverty and ensure that poor families are able to live a dignified life,” the letter read.
MANILA, Philippines - Former president Fidel Ramos yesterday led advocates of responsible parenthood in urging President Duterte to fully implement the Reproductive Health (RH) law.
In an open letter to Duterte, Ramos and RH advocates reminded Duterte that in his State of the Nation Address, he mentioned that the RH law “must be put into force and effect.”
“We ask for your intervention to mandate for the full implementation of the RH before time runs out. Full implementation of the law will not only safeguard the health and save the lives of thousands of women and children, but will also reduce poverty and ensure that poor families are able to live a dignified life,” the letter read.
The letter was signed by Ramos and 23 other individuals from the multi-sector RH advocacy group The Forum for Family Planning and Development Inc.
The call was made 18 months since the Supreme Court issued two temporary restraining orders (TRO) derailing the implementation of the RH law.
One of the TROs prohibited the Food and Drug Administration from renewing the licenses of contraceptive products in the Philippines, while the other prohibited the Department of Health from including contraceptive implants in its RH programs.
The RH advocates cautioned that the country is now “in a race against time for the full implementation of the RH law.”
The advocates stressed that denying access to RH services would result in increased number of unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortion, which according to the National Demographic Health Survey had already reached 610,000 in 2012.
They noted that in a day, 14-15 Filipino mothers die because of pregnancy and childbirth. The figure is bound to be higher as long as the TROs are in effect, “preventing the promotion and distribution of modern methods of contraception.”
“Such act is a blatant disservice to the poor, the very people you vowed to look after and protect. The government must provide free family planning services to those who want it,” the RH advocates told Duterte.
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