RH Advocates to LGUs: Do Your Role in Implementing Reproductive Health Law

Advocates of the Purple Ribbon for Reproductive Health (RH) have called on local government units (LGUs) to do their role in carrying out the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law among their constituents.

Purple Ribbon made the call after the Supreme Court’s (SC) clarification that the temporary restraining order (TRO) it had issued two years ago only covered the contraceptive implants, Implanon and Implant NXT and not the other contraceptives.

In a press statement released Thursday, Purple Ribbon lauded this development as “a continued progress in the implementation of sexual and reproductive health and rights policies from the national government to the local government units”.

It thus enjoined stakeholders “to strongly advocate for the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law“.

In a previous interview, Romeo Dongeto of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) said there must be adequate funding to provide full access to family planning, and to institutionalize programs for maternal health care, and sexuality and reproductive health education.

Meanwhile, Beth Angsioco of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines said that the public must learn to demand from their local officials the provision of their rights.

“We urge all Filipinos to assert their sexual and reproductive health and rights and to do their part in seeing this advocacy through,” Angsioco said in a separate interview.

Last May 26, the SC explained that the TRO it issued in June 2015 only covers Implanon and Implanon NXT, and that it never meant to cover all other contraceptives that are “unquestionably non-abortifacient“.

The SC noted that the TRO will be considered lifted once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) follows its ruling and gives the party opposed to the implants an opportunity to comment on the registration of Implanon and Implanon NXT.

The High Court said the FDA must develop procedures for screening, evaluating and approving contraceptive drugs and devices.

“We urge the FDA to comply with the Supreme Court resolution to immediately resolve the contraceptive use of said implants,” Purple Ribbon said in its statement.

The RPRH Law covers access to family planning, and institutionalizes programs for maternal health care, age-appropriate sexuality and reproductive health education, as well as funding to support these programs. (LSJ/PNA)