Bets urged: Ensure RH Law implementation

MANILA, Philippines – Reproductive health advocates yesterday challenged national and local candidates to ensure meaningful implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law.

The Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) stressed the importance of the RH Law in improving maternal health and promoting family planning and responsible parenthood.

“Implementing the law requires strong political will amidst relentless challenge from anti-RH forces, including the Catholic church,” said PLCPD executive director Romeo Dongeto.

“The national and local governments should make the implementation of the RH Law 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,” Dongeto added.

Meanwhile, former health secretary Esperanza Cabral, convener of the Purple Ribbon for RH Movement, emphasized that reproductive health is a fundamental human right that the government must fulfill.

“It is primarily the government’s responsibility to uphold RH as part of our country’s commitment to various international agreements recognizing it as a fundamental human right.

Elected officials are bound by law to fulfill this commitment and meaningfully implement the RH Law,” she said.