(DOH logo)
The Department of Health Center – National Capital Region (DOH-NCR) will host a public consultation and review tomorrow, March 8, on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10354, also known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012 (RPRH Act of 2012), with various sectors of society including religious groups, Metro Manila mayors and city health officers, women’s and children’s groups, and media organizations.
“We would like to enjoin the support of all sectors in this public consultation so that they may express their views, opinions and recommendations on the provisions stated in the RH law and once it is implemented, we expect that it will significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality in the country and save countless of lives especially that of mothers and their children,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo declared.
With the actual implementation of the RH Law, the DOH will fully carry out its mandate of reducing maternal and infant mortality rate through comprehensive reproductive health care services such as providing modern family planning methods, safe birth deliveries, adequate supply of blood and quality care in all of its health care facilities. The rights of women and family will also be protected, Janairo added.
The RP RH law drafting committee will be conducting the IRR consultation which is also called Usapang Kalusugang Pampamilya”. Other consultations were also conducted in the cities of Cebu and Davao and were attended by LGUs, hospital chiefs, the academe and various NGO representatives.
Among the groups invited in the Metro Manila caucus were the Catholics for Reproductive Health, Interfaith Partnership for Responsible Parenthood, Akbayan, Amnesty International Pilipinas, Commission on Human Rights-Women’s Human Rights Center, Philippine Center for Population and Development, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines and 152 others.
Secretary of Health Enrique T. Ona emphasized that the RH Law was enacted to save lives and not to control the population.
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 became a law on December 21, 2010 after President Benigno S. Aquino III signed it and it took effect on January 17, 2013.
The approved draft IRR is expected to be signed on March 15, 2013.
“The RH Law is all about empowering women and families and providing them the freedom to make informed family planning choices and that will eventually lead to a healthy and productive life for our women, especially mothers,” Dr. Janairo emphasized.
“Once in effect, we can implement full health care access to our women such as reproductive health services in order to lessen the incidence of high maternal mortality rates, high fertility rates, and the inadequate family planning services in all government facilities nationwide,” Janairo concluded.