Full Implementation of RH Law, Job-Generating Economic Growth to Cut Poverty –NEDA

The socioeconomic planning agency is pushing for the rapid and full implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law in a bid to benefit from the so-called “demographic dividend” that can boost economic growth vital for reducing poverty.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dr. Ernesto Pernia said implementing the RH law, coupled with economic growth that generates jobs for less skilled workers and the poor, can reduce poverty in the country.

“Our target under the Duterte administration is to try to reduce poverty from the current 26 to 25 percent. We want to reduce it by something like 1.25 percentage point or 1.5 percentage point every year. That’s feasible…,” he said in press briefing on the demographic dividend on Thursday.

Pernia said the RH law should be implemented not just in Metro Manila or other major cities but at the local levels too.

“We will ask the President (Rodrigo Duterte) to issue an EO (Executive Order) to local government executives to the municipality level not just the big cities, not just the provinces,” he said.

Pernia, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General, is also pushing for higher budget for the implementation of RH law.

“In the past, about Php2 billion has been allocated in the budget. But I think we probably need more… If there is not enough in the 2017 budget then, probably it would be justifiable to borrow or get some donors to come forward,” he said.

A policy brief commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the NEDA, noted that the full implementation of the RH Law is the key to lowering fertility rate.

It said the slow reduction in fertility rate, particularly among the poorest households and the high unemployment and underemployment rates among the young workers are challenges that are creating hindrance in exploiting the demographic dividend.

The demographic dividend is the accelerated development that can arise when a population has a relatively large proportion of working-age people coupled with effective human capital investment.

“Without government aggressive efforts to reduce the country’s total fertility rate and policies geared towards creating more jobs, the window of opportunity from the demographic transition will close quickly without us even noticing it,” said the policy briefing.

Pernia thus urged the lifting of temporary restraining orders (TROs) that prevent the full implementation of the RH Law.

Klaus Beck, country representative of UNFPA, said “with the right policies and investments in human capital, countries can empower young people to drive economic and social development and boost per-capita incomes.”

Critical youth investments needed to reap a demographic dividend are those that protect rights, including reproductive rights, improve health, including sexual and reproductive health and provide skills and knowledge to build young people’s capabilities and agency.

These investments can also accelerate fertility declines, which can in turn accelerate the demographic transition.

On July, the world observes the World Population Day, which highlights emerging population issues. (PNA) RMA/LDV