Improved dispatch system for family planning products
MANILA - Admitting that there are difficulties in ensuring there is an adequate supply of family planning commodities all over the country, the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday said it is already looking at ways to improve their dispatch system.
In a press conference during the annual Breastfeeding and Family Planning Summit in Manila, DOH Spokesman Dr. Eric Tayag admitted that there have been numerous challenges in ensuring the strict implementation of the reproductive health (RH) law.
"We have faced difficult challenges. And we are looking at mechanisms to improve our distribution and to reconcile our stock distribution of these family planning commodities,” said Tayag.
He said they are looking at possible issues in their courier services in charge of deploying family
planning commodities to different parts of the country.
“The other distribution failures may be related to our couriers and so we are trying to fix that problem,” said Tayag.
Another impediment, he noted, is the devolved health system in the country, wherein local government units (LGUs) handle their own health services.
“We should understand that LGUs will have their supplies as some of them will also have their own procurements. But in some, we don’t have a very robust supply,” said Tayag.
Immediately addressing the problem on availability of family planning methods, Tayag said, is vital since there has been an increase on the use of contraceptives among married women over the past decade.
According to the official, the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey showed that 55 percent of the married women use contraceptives in family planning as compared to only 49 percent in 2003.
The same survey, however, showed that 18 percent of married women have unmet need for family planning commodities.
In the meantime, the health official said they have established a call center, wherein the DOH is prepared to receive calls from local health centers.
“It allows the DOH to receive requests or info about stock outs so that replacements are made easier and faster,” said Tayag. HDT/ Sunnex Santiago’s outstanding leadership in various offices in the government having rendered sincere public service.
“It is a great loss for the Philippines. She is one of the great minds with unparalleled wisdom having served in the three branches of the goverment. As a regional trial court (rtc) judge, Bureau of Immigration (BID) commissioner and a senator,” Fabrero said.
Lawyer Jong Guevarra, Jr., for his part, said, "Brilliant and eloquent. One of the best presidents we never had."
Santiago succumbed to a latestage lung cancer at 8:52 a.m. yesterday. She passed away while confined at the St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.
In 2014, the former senator announced that she has a stage 4 lung cancer, which brought apprehension to her supporters and political allies. Nevertheless, even her cancer feared her as it was regressed in a series of medical treatments in previous years.
Her staunch Davao supporter Ralph Lawrence Llemit said that it shattered his heart after hearing the unfortunate news.
“She could’ve been a more than perfect image of how a president should be brave, honest, knowledgable and most of all, the one who has the heart for public service,” Llemit said.
Amidst her age and health condition, Sen. Miriam chose to stand up for the Filipino, especially for the welfare of the youth, where she was known to be steadfast in defending their rights.
Despite Santiago’s loss in the May election, Llemit said that it was evident that she had won the hearts of million Filipinos.
In her four decades as a public servant, he said that it should serve as a challenge and inspiration for everyone.
“I could remember one of her quotes during a public forum, she said that “Do not be like me. Be better than me.” We may have lost her physically, but her legacy will carry on throughout the next generation,” he said.
Lawyer Ceasar Europa of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines governor of Eastern Mindanao Region, said that Santiago’s colorful brand of advocacy will be certainly missed.
“With the death of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, we lost a fiery bastion of the rule of law and a staunch defender of constitutional rights. May her life serve as a shining example of the strength and excellence of Filipino women leaders,” Europa said.
Meanwhile, the palace commemorates the fearless moves of Santiago that made her unique among other mainstream politicians.
“Senator Santiago has left a sterling career in public office. She is best remembered as a graftbuster ‘eating death threats for breakfast” earning her the Iron Lady of Asia,” the statement said.
They recognize her as an advocate for the rule of law and further affirmed that her legacy will continue to guide the nation for more years to come.
Presidential son Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, who met Santiago during a presidential debate, posted on his Facebook that she was a brilliant leader in the country.
“Once upon a time, in the land of Iloilo, a great public servant rose to serve her nation. She became one of the most admirable, most brilliant and one of the toughest public officials in her lifetime,” Duterte said.
Santiago is best known for the unique brand of charismatic leadership that media likes to call “Miriam Magic.” With Ace June Junell S. Perez and Karina V. Cañedo