A PARTY-LIST legislator assailed the Department of Health (DOH) on Friday for implementing the reproductive health (RH) law by allegedly using contraceptives that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The Supreme Court decision on the RH law is very clear—any contraceptive to be used in its implementation should be FDA-approved. But the DOH is already implementing the program using a contraceptive patch called Implanon, which is not approved by the FDA. What’s worse is that this is being done as a prerequisite to the distribution of the Conditional Cash Transfer [CCT] program of the DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development],” Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay said.
A prospective beneficiary is forced to have Implanon imbedded in her skin before she is enlisted in the CCT Program, Atienza said.
Implanon is described as a birth-control patch that is implanted in the inner biceps of women, effectively rendering them sterile for three years.
“The DOH should immediately stop using Implanon, unless the FDA certifies it as genuinely non-abortifacient and safe. This illegal practice should be stopped immediately. In other countries where this is being used, women undergo rigid tests before Implanon is given. I don’t believe this is being done here. This exposes prospective recipients to possible harmful effects on their health,” Atienza said.
He led a rally together with the Kababaihan ng Maynila women’s organization and other groups, like Alliance for the Families and Prolife Phils., Soldiers of Christ and Our Lady of Victories Parish Church volunteers and priests at the FDA office in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, to deliver a strong message for the FDA to do its job and protect the health and well-being of Filipino mothers.
They demanded from the FDA to respond to their letters sent as early as August 2014 on the issue of the DOH using uncertified and unapproved birth-control methods.
“The FDA should do its job and immediately act on this matter. Is Implanon approved by the FDA or not? Prolife Philippines had written the FDA in August of 2014 to inquire about the list of approved contraceptive drugs, but their letter has remained unanswered until now. In the meantime, this is being used on women in depressed communities in exchange for the CCT. This is tantamount to forced sterilization of Filipinos contrary to the SC [Supreme Court] ruling on how the RH law should be implemented,” Lito David of Prolife Phils. said.
“We have been proven correct in going against the RH law, as it will not solve the economic problems of poor families but will only destroy the proper valuing of human life.
The government should concentrate on programs that would promote development, provide employment and improve the lives of every Filipino,” Atienza said.
3 comments
kaya napakapangit ng manila sa pamamahala ni atienza. sumabog populasyon para magamit sa eleksyon. daming pulubi at irresponsible parents… remember MONEY IS NOT THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL… IT IS POVERTY IS THE ROOT OF EVIL… dami kriminal sa manila. snatcher, hold-upper, rapist. irresponsible ang parents. pagkakantot.. sa kalye mo nalang makikita mga anak nila.
sa mga non taxpayers napupunta ang malaking percentage ng taxes namiin, imbes na sa development. nasa social funds pa din. napakalalaki ng mga katawan, sobrang tataba ng utak.. inuubos ang kaban ng gobyerno. lahat ng drama sa buhay gagawin nila para kaawaan sila pero mga manloloko naman.
population control is key… KAYA WAG KANG EPAL ATIENZA