Gov’t underscores value of family planning

The Filipino family is at the heart of Philippine culture. Families are closelyknit, with grandparents to grandchildren living close to each other, if not in the same home, compound, or neighborhood. For most Filipinos, family is prioritized first.

As the foundation of the nation, the Philippine government’s programs, laws and policies are built around the welfare of the family.

But poverty is still widespread in the country. Indigent Filipinos account for 21.6 percent of the household population, which is now at more than 100 million, according to a 2017 report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In line with poor living conditions, infant and maternal mortality are also pressing concerns. ADB stated that 114 mothers die in every 100,000 live births. 22 babies, on the other hand, die out of 1,000 live births.

To protect and strengthen the family, and equally protect the life of the mother and that of the unborn from conception, the RH law is now on full implementation following the recent lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) against it.

RH law supporters contend that family planning helps people, especially women and mothers, take care of their family and their own health better through birth spacing and contraceptive use.

By giving married couples the ability to plan and decide when they’ll conceive, they can welcome a new member to the family at a time when they are financially, physically, and psychologically ready to nurture and support the child.

Family planning can delay pregnancies in women who are at risk of having health complications that may even cause death.

Aside from maternal mortality, family planning also reduces infant mortality as it prevents ill-timed pregnancies and births of mothers with poor health.

The RH law is in fact a fundamental part of the current administration’s zero to 10-point agenda presented during the World Economic Forum early this year.

Moreover, the United Nations stated that “access to safe, voluntary family planning is a human right. Family planning is central to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and is a key factor in reducing poverty.”

The 51 contraceptive products available under the RH law were all declared safe and ‘non-abortifacient’ by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA approval actually served as precursor to the lifting of the TRO issued by the Supreme Court.

With priority given to the indigent, women can choose from natural to modern methods of family planning available through the Department of Health (DOH), in cooperation with the local government, Commission on Population (PopCom) and its partners from the private sector.

Some of the modern, artificial methods of contraception include the Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) which is a group of methods that provide more than 99 percent effective contraception for the long-term, do not require the woman to do anything to prevent pregnancy every day or every time she has sex, and are reversible when stopped.

The Filipino family is a cherished part of Philippine society. Their health and welfare can be upheld better if nurturing care, time, education, ample healthcare, and a healthy living environment can be planned and given by parents for their children.