DOH-7 Welcomes SC Legalizing RH Law

The much awaited decision by the Supreme Court legalizing the controversial Reproductive Health law on Tuesday was welcomed by the health officials in Central Visayas.

But Dr. Laksmi Legaspi, Department of Health (DOH)-7 Assistant Regional Director, said she does not believe the RH law could freeze the soaring population of the Philippines. However, she said that it is the Filipino couples’ conscience that could make the law effective on the way it was conceptualized.

The implementation of the RH law was differed after it was signed by President Benigno Aquino more than a year ago due to some petitions against its constitutionality.

But when the final verdict was handed down by the majority of the highest court’s magistrates, the opposition was frustrated.

Legaspi, in an interview with the media, said that their advocacy regarding family planning is a continuing process.

She also said that even without the RH law, the DOH was already aggressive on its campaign appealing to every couple to adopt family planning methods.

According to Legaspi that even if they knew that some couples are not heeding their advices, still they patiently did not stop their advocacy.

The assistant regional director told that being a woman, she knows that pregnancy is a great risk to a woman’s life. She said that she could not imagine the hardships of a mother who is bearing a child every year without any proper means of livelihood.

That is why the DOH needs more budget for the procurement of contraceptives such as condoms, pills and other family planning tools for free.

This is aside from free lectures regarding the adoption of vasectomy for men and ligation for women to achieve the government’s dream to have free-stressed Filipino household, Legaspi added.

However, Legaspi said they are not forcing anybody to adopt a family planning scheme because they want the couple to be educated through their own.

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