LOBBY group Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) called on Wednesday for the implementation of Republic Act 10354, also known as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) law.
The call was made by PLCPD as it marks the first year since the Supreme Court nixed petitions to declare the law unconstitutional on April 8, 2014.
According to the group backed by lawmakers, RA 10354 is a landmark and historic law.
It took almost 14 years in the legislative mill before it was approved by the 15th Congress and signed by the President in December 2012.
In late 2014, the Department of Health (DOH) created the National Implementation Team for the RPRH law. Headed by former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, the NIT has never stopped working since, a statement said.
The PLCPD said it believes the law will help reduce poverty incidence in the country, aside from directly addressing issues concerning maternal health care, among others.
Citing the 2011 Family Health Survey, the PLCPD said the country’s maternal mortality ratio is 221 deaths per 100,000 live births. This is “a far cry from the national target of reducing it to 62 per 100,000 live births by 2015,” the PLCPD said.
Moreover, the group said that among the most serious problems currently faced by the youth is teenage pregnancy, citing the 2013 National Health and Demographic Survey. That study revealed that 11 percent of Filipino women aged 15 to 19 were already mothers, while 2.6 percent were pregnant with their first child in 2011.
Citing the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study, the PLCPD said 32 percent of Filipino youth are sexually active; 78 percent of young people who have had premarital sex did not use any protection during their first time.
On the other hand, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases in the country increase at a “fast and furious” rate, with 536 new cases diagnosed in January or 18 new cases per day, the PLCPD said citing DOH data.
“These are only few of the serious RH-related problems confronting the country. The full and meaningful implementation of the RPRH Law will contribute to addressing these,” the group said.