Separability Clause, Repealing Clause, Effectivity, The bill mandates the government to "promote, without biases, all effective natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically safe and legal. The millions of funds intended for the contraceptive devices may just well be applied in improving the skills of our health workers in reducing maternal and child mortality in the Philippines". One in ten women (13%) who had attempted an abortion revealed that this was because her pregnancy resulted from forced sex (ibid.). The Catholic Church also states that their stand is based on secular reasons and natural law that are both acceptable to non-Catholics as well. When a couple agrees to practice this, they will only have the number of children they can afford to support. MANILA, Philippines The Catholic Church's staunch opposition to the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act has stalled the law . This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Definition of Terms. Aquino stressed, "I'm a Catholic, I'm not promoting it. [79], At 3 in the morning on December 13, 2012, the House of Representatives voted on second reading in favor of the bill with 113109 while five representatives abstained. SEC. Appropriations Health Care Facilities. The total fertility rate for women with a college education is 2.3, about half that of women with only elementary education (4.5). There are several studies cited by those who support the bill: President Aquino stated he was not an author of the bill. 19. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of women especially mothers in particular and of the people in general and instill health consciousness among them. The justices, however, struck down eight provisions of the law partially or in full. Since 1994, reproductive rights and reproductive health have been a highly recurrent theme in the Commission. [25] Citing Catholic documents and scientific studies, they reasoned that "the RH Bill is pro-life, pro-women, pro-poor, pro-youth, and pro-informed choice". According to the 2008 NDHS, only 44 percent of births occur in health facilities and only 62% of births are assisted by a health professional.10 Maternal deaths related to childbirth can be reduced further by access to skilled birth attendants which would be addressed by a comprehensive reproductive health care policy. Section 11. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health and Sexuality Education [50], A TV Debate was also hosted by ABS-CBN in May 2011. Be consistent 8. Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:22 AM July 22, 2019. They announced that "Catholic social teachings recognize the primacy of the well-formed conscience over wooden compliance to directives from political and religious authorities", urging Catholic authorities to withdraw their opposition the bill. Informed choice C. birth control. The PMA condemns abortifacients that "destroys the fertilized egg or the embryo" and "abhors any procedureor medication that will interrupt any stage of fertilization and prevents its normal, physiological, uninterrupted growth to adulthood". Heated debates and rallies both supporting and opposing the RH Bill took place nationwide. They are also obliged to monitor pregnant working employees among their workforce and ensure they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for each month of the pregnancy period that they are employed. Section 21. At least four (4) members of the IRR drafting committee, to be selected by the DOH Secretary, shall come from NGOs. It is an Act that was passed in parliament of Philippines.It states that. These systems are made of organs and hormone-producing glands, including the pituitary gland in the brain. What you do matters 2. Sexual and Reproductive health Responsible Parenthood C. Birth Control. [71], Lagman on the other hand said that both these priorities are important but with a burgeoning population the budget will become even tighter, thus population growth is a major issue. [citation needed], European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Alistair MacDonald said "We have all seen the figures on illegal abortion a year in the Philippines and I very much hope that both Houses of Congress will take these issues into account in producing a reproductive health legislation which will really help people make their own choices and to provide for their families. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Act of 2012 other the Republic Act No. 4. [13], Proponents argue that smaller families and wider birth intervals resulting from the use of contraceptives allow families to invest more in each child's education, health, nutrition and eventually reduce poverty and hunger at the household level. Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act 2012, insures the child and mother gets the best care during and pregnancy.. 16. The annual report shall evaluate the content, implementation, and impact of all policies related to reproductive health and family planning to ensure that such policies promote, protect and fulfill womens reproductive health and rights. Spell. (b) Adolescent refers to young people between the ages of ten (10) to nineteen (19) years who are in transition from childhood to adulthood. Prohibited Acts. [64] Former Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo stated that these punitive provisions "are tantamount to an affront to civil liberties and smack of religious persecution". They have established a technical working group for this purpose. Couples determine their ideal family size. I. "[78], In September 2010, Aquino, during this visit to the U.S., reiterated his stand that he is in favor of responsible parenthood and respects the decision of each couple as to the number of children they want, and if they need the government support for contraception, the government will provide it. This implies that people are able to have a responsible, safe, consensual and satisfying sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. Technically it means "non-establishment of religion," as the Constitution states, "No law shall be passed respecting an establishment of religion." Flashcards. "[9], Although abortion is recognized as illegal and punishable by law, the bill states that "the government shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner". For the purpose of this Act, any product or supply included or to be included in the EDL must have a certification from the FDA that said product and supply is made available on the condition that it is not to be used as an abortifacient. [10][25], Proponents of the bill contend that "natural family planning methods have not proven to be as reliable as artificial means of birth control". The amounts appropriated in the current annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) for reproductive health and natural and artificial family planning and responsible parenthood under the DOH and other concerned agencies shall be allocated and utilized for the implementation of this Act. 10354 or "The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012" (RPRH Act) has become the focal . It provides that "the government shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner". Therefore, there will be no unwanted pregnancy for the couple. [25] Thus, they called their paper "Catholics Can Support the RH Bill in Good Conscience". [6][11][25] The Asian Development Bank in 2004 also listed a large population as one of the major causes of poverty in the country, together with weak macroeconomic management, employment issues, an underperforming agricultural sector and an unfinished land reform agenda, governance issues including corruption. The DOH shall provide such programs, technical support, including capacity building and monitoring. The pro-RH people accuse the anti-RH group of misleading the public by calling the bill an abortion bill, when the bill states that abortion remains a crime and is punishable. All accredited public health facilities shall provide a full range of modern family planning methods, which shall also include medical consultations, supplies and necessary and reasonable procedures for poor and marginalized couples having infertility issues who desire to have children: Provided, That family planning services shall likewise be extended by private health facilities to paying patients with the option to grant free care and services to indigents, except in the case of non-maternity specialty hospitals and hospitals owned and operated by a religious group, but they have the option to provide such full range of modern family planning methods: Provided, further, That these hospitals shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health facility which is conveniently accessible: Provided, finally, That the person is not in an emergency condition or serious case as defined in Republic Act No. The MHCS shall be operated by skilled health providers and adequately equipped with a wide range of health care materials and information dissemination devices and equipment, the latter including, but not limited to, a television set for audio-visual presentations. EMMA LIRIO-REYESSecretary of Senate, (Sgd.) 10354, otherwise known as "The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012" or the RPRH Act. Aid recipients such as the Philippines faced the challenge to fund its own contraception program. The supply and budget allotments shall be based on, among others, the current levels and projections of the following: (a) Number of women of reproductive age and couples who want to space or limit their children; (b) Contraceptive prevalence rate, by type of method used; and. 12. Section 19. A survey conducted in 2008 by the Social Weather Stations, commissioned by the Forum for Family Planning and Development (FFPD), a non-government advocacy group, showed that 68 percent of Filipinos agree that there should be a law requiring government to distribute legal contraceptives. Good citizens need to be people who act according to moral principles. (y) Skilled birth attendance refers to childbirth managed by a skilled health professional including the enabling conditions of necessary equipment and support of a functioning health system, including transport and referral faculties for emergency obstetric care. Penalties 20. 96: An Act Providing For a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population and Development and Other Purposes", "Full text of House Bill No. The law was. SEC. "[45] Primary among the means is distribution of condoms. . Learn More >. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, House of Representatives of the Philippines, United States Agency for International Development, Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development, International Planned Parenthood Federation, University of the Philippines School of Economics, "Legislative History at the House of Representatives", "Coercive Population Ploys in the Philippines", "Declaration on Population: The World Leaders Statement", Promoting Reproductive Health: A Unified Strategy to Achieve the MDGs, "National Security Study Memorandum 200: Implications of Worldwide Population Growth for U.S. Security and Overseas Interests (NSSM 200)", "Copy of new RH bill version filed at the House of Representatives", "Population, Poverty, Politics and the Reproductive Health Bill", "Population and Poverty: A Review of the Evidence, Links, Implications for the Philippines", "Arguments for the Reproductive Health Bill", "Facts and Fallacies on the Reproductive Health Bill", "Aquino eases up on reproductive health bill", "Population density Persons per sq km 2011 country ranks, By Rank", "THE 2010 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING REVEALS THE PHILIPPINE POPULATION AT 92.34 MILLION", "CATHOLICS CAN SUPPORT THE RH BILL IN GOOD CONSCIENCE", "The Demographic Dividend: A New Perspective on the Economic Consequences of Population Change", "2 RH authors want population control provisions scrapped", "Review & Outlook: Keeping the Philippine Dream Alive", "Studies show maternal deaths in Philippines in decline", "Year-ender report: The crusade for a culture of life, Part 2", "POSITION PAPER ON THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL", "Sotto asks Senate to scrap 'redundant' RH bill", "RH bill authors agree to make sex education optional", "Transcript of Secretary Clinton's statement to G8 Ministers", "Statement on Reproductive Health Bill 5043", "Solons laud SWS survey on family planning", "Pulse Asia's October 2008 Nationwide Survey on Reproductive Health and the Reproductive Health Bill", "Pulse Asia survey: 69% of Filipinos agree with RH bill", "Philippines still divided on reproductive health bill", "Philstar poll on RH Bill " Nation " News", "Santo Papa umapela sa mga Pinoy na ipagtanggol ang buhay", "Thousands join anti-RH Bill rally The Freeman " The Freeman Sections " Cebu News", "7 Bataan barangays follow Ayala Alabang, pass own RH laws", "Thousands in Laguna, Quezon, Leyte march vs RH bill", "We need to debate on RH Bill, says Garin | The News Today", "RH bill activists hold rally; House OKs RH budget", "1,000 women march to Mendiola for Reproductive Health bill", "No delay but RH bill won't be passed this yearEnrile", "RH Bill Philippines: full text of reproductive health and related measures", "Massive Church rally set against RH bill", "DOH proposed nearly P14billion to fund RH bill in 2012", "No foreign funding for RH lobby Lagman", Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, "CBCP, Palace to launch info drive on family planning", "Aquino risks Church ire on reproductive health bill", "Talking Points for Dialogue on the Reproductive Health Bill (HB 96; filed July 1, 2010)", "House minority group no longer supports RH bill " Nation " News", "House, Senate approve reproductive health bill on final reading", "Senate, House ratify bicameral panel version of RH Bill", "President Aquino signs RH bill into law", "Justices say Supreme Court cannot settle medical issues in RH law", "Supreme Court extends order stopping RH law", "Last hearing on RH law, gov't has last word", "Philippines to offer free contraceptives to 6 million women", "House Bill No. Before the end of April each year, the DOH shall submit to the President of the Philippines and Congress an annual consolidated report, which shall provide a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of its programs and those of other government agencies and instrumentalities and recommend priorities for executive and legislative actions. Private and nongovernment reproductive healthcare service providers including, but not limited to, gynecologists and obstetricians, are encouraged to provide at least forty-eight (48) hours annually of reproductive health services, ranging from providing information and education to rendering medical services, free of charge to indigent and low-income patients as identified through the NHTS-PR and other government measures of identifying marginalization, especially to pregnant adolescents. Congressional Oversight Committee on Reproductive Health Act. All serious and life-threatening reproductive health conditions such as HIV and AIDS, breast and reproductive tract cancers, and obstetric complications, and menopausal and post-menopausal-related conditions shall be given the maximum benefits, including the provision of Anti-Retroviral Medicines (ARVs), as provided in the guidelines set by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC). Explanation: Advertisement Still have questions? The Supreme Court of the Philippines delayed the implementation of the law in March 2013 in response to challenges. 29. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). [29], Opposing the bill, Former Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo wrote that it is "truly disingenuous for anyone to proceed on the premise that the poor are to blame for the nation's poverty:. "[74], However, by April 2011 Aquino has given his full support to the entire RH Bill in a speech at the University of the Philippines Diliman and promised to push for its passage even at the "risk of excommunication."[75]. The following acts are prohibited: (a) Any health care service provider, whether public or private, who shall: (1) Knowingly withhold information or restrict the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe, non-abortifacient and effective family planning methods; (2) Refuse to perform legal and medically-safe reproductive health procedures on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of consent or authorization of the following persons in the following instances: (i) Spousal consent in case of married persons: Provided, That in case of disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail; and, (ii) Parental consent or that of the person exercising parental authority in the case of abused minors, where the parent or the person exercising parental authority is the respondent, accused or convicted perpetrator as certified by the proper prosecutorial office of the court. [citation needed], The 2013 total fertility rate (TFR) is 3.20 births per woman, from a TFR of 7 in 1960. [33], Jo Imbong, founder of the Abay Pamilya Foundation, reported that "Lagman said in a House hearing that the bill would protect human life 'from implantation' ",[37] and not from fertilization, noting at the same time that the Records of the Constitutional Commission state that "Human life begins at fertilization". Integration of Family Planning and Responsible Parenthood Component in Anti-Poverty Programs (3) Perform such other functions necessary to attain the purposes of this Act. Pursuant thereto, the State shall defend: (a) The right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood; (b) The right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development; (c) The right of the family to a family living wage and income; and, (d) The right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and implementation of policies and programs, The State likewise guarantees universal access to medically-safe, non-abortifacient, effective, legal, affordable, and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies which do not prevent the implantation of a fertilized ovum as determined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and relevant information and education thereon according to the priority needs of women, children and other underprivileged sectors, giving preferential access to those identified through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) and other government measures of identifying marginalization, who shall be voluntary beneficiaries of reproductive health care, services and supplies for free. [36], The position of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) "is founded strongly on the principle that 'life or conception begins at fertilization' at that moment where there is fusion or union of the sperm and the egg and thus a human person or human being already does exist at the moment of fertilization". [6], The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) stated in their Position Paper that the goal of reducing the rise of maternal and child deaths "could be attained by improving maternal and child health care without the necessity of distributing contraceptives. On April 3, 2014, the Court ruled that the law was "not unconstitutional" but struck down eight provisions partially or in full. 15. Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act (RA 10354) For married couples Family planning is a preparation for responsible parenthood. SEC. It will mean reneging on international commitments and will slow down modernization. Adapt your parenting to fit your child 5. Procurement and Distribution of Family Planning Supplies [67] Passing it or not passing it of the bill has negative implications depending on the views. 10354, is a Philippine law that provided universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care in the Philippines. 1. Repealing Clause. The Rizal Law, officially designated as Republic Act No. "[88] If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president or any responsible officer. SEC. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, known as the RH Law, is a groundbreaking law that guarantees universal and free access to nearly all modern contraceptives for all citizens, including impoverished communities, at government health centers.