The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354), commonly known as the Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, is a Philippine law which guarantees universal access to methods of` contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care.
The law was first introduced in as House Bill 4244 on February 21, 2011 and was finally passed in the House of Representatives and Senate on December 19, 2012. It was signed into law by then President Benigno S. Aquino III on December 21, 2016. Though the law was enacted, it was restrained by the Supreme Court from March 19, 2013. It issued a status quo ante order after Pro-Life Philippines Foundation Inc. and Catholic Church groups questioned the law, saying it violated the constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to life. On April 8, 2014, after scrutiny of the various arguments and contentions of the parties, the Court unanimously held that Republic Act No. 10354 is not unconstitutional. However some provisions were nullified and rendered as unconstitutional. As of now, President Rodrigo R. Duterte vows for the full implementation of the law and it was included in the administration’s 10-point Agenda.
Personally as a Public Health Nurse for almost 4 years, I am one of the advocates of RH law implementation. I think the country needs an established law regarding reproductive health. I fully agree with majority of the provisions most especially Sections 5, 6, 11 and 14.
In the Philippines, the mortality rate for Filipino mothers has increased to 221 per 100,000 live births in 2011 from 162 per 100,000 live births in 2009 (DOH, 2012). The hiring of skilled health professionals for maternal health care and skilled birth attendance will address the problem on increasing maternal mortality rate in the country. Pregnant women who are at risk of complications will be properly attended to for there will be adequate skilled health professional-to-patient ratio. This will also mean increase job opportunities to many unemployed nurses. The improvement of maternal and neonatal health is also supported by Section 6 which mandates the Local Government Unit to establish and upgrade their facilities by ensuring that supplies and equipment are available and functional.
Section 11 entitled “Integration of Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Component in Anti-Poverty Programs” will seek to uphold the welfare of the poor. It’s sad to say that majority of the economically deprived are the ones who have large family size making it difficult for them to provide the basic needs of their family members. Granting full access to the poor and marginalized women on reproductive health care education, facilities and supplies will help improve their life condition. With focus on responsible parenthood, they will be able to understand their life situation and be able to plan the proper number and spacing of children they desire.
Anti-RH Law advocates argued that giving reproductive health education to adolescents will increase their promiscuity but I don’t agree. In section 14 of this law, it states that age-and development- appropriate reproductive health education shall be provided by trained teachers and the Department of Education will develop the curriculum and so we can be sure that it will not favor sexual promiscuity. I think it will be best that the young people acquire these regarding information in the school for it will be guided, rather than be misled by the information they get from their peers, media and social media.
According to the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 4) conducted by the University of the Philippines Population Institute, the number of teenage pregnancy have doubled in the past decade and unfortunately Cordillera Administrative Region has the highest incidence nationwide. So I think, this will be the best time to integrate reproductive health in the education curriculum. Providing reproductive health education to adolescents does not mean we will encourage them to engage in sex and use contraceptives. The education to be given will be more on how they can be responsible young adults and parents in the future.
The section of the law that the church and prolife advocates are so against about is the section on access to family planning. Their arguments was that artificial methods such as condoms, pills, injectable, implants and IUD are abortifacients. The fact is, medical professionals, book authors, WHO and DOH have contradicting and varying definitions of abortion, abortifacient and pregnancy making it hard to take a stand on the use of artificial contraception. But despite this dilemma, we still have the right to make free and informed decision regarding the use of contraceptives as stated in the guiding principles of the RH Law itself. The law also states that no one shall be subjected to coercion and individuals’ preferences and choice of family planning methods shall be respected. In short, even if the RH Law mandates the use of artificial methods, we are still the one who will decide based on our moral and religious principle.
The passing of the RH Law have gone through a long journey and have surpassed strong objections from religious organizations and pro-life advocates. Some may still find flaws that may hinder its full enforcement but I think it’s about time that the Philippines will finally have an established reproductive health law that will govern the implementation and improvement of maternal health, responsible parenthood and family planning programs.
It is our right as Filipinos to have a better reproductive health and this can be achieved by implementing the RH Law NOW.
By: Roselle Kristine D. Waguis
