Induced abortions among Filipinos could increase if the Supreme Court does not lift its temporary restraining order (TRO) on the reproductive-health law, according to the Commission on Population (Popcom).
The failure to lift the TRO on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012 has caused the expiration of the certificates of product registrations (CPRs) of modern contraceptive methods in the past 18 months.
Popcom Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III said this has made family planning more difficult for women and may have increase the number of unintended pregnancies.
“There is a strong possibility of rising induced abortions among Filipino women who are already faced with increasing numbers of unintended pregnancies,” Perez said. “The increase in unintended pregnancies in the last 18 months has also seen an increase in induced abortions.”
Induced abortion is the intentional termination of a pregnancy before the fetus can live independently. It can be medically done based on a woman’s personal choice, or to preserve the health, if not save, the life of a pregnant woman.
Citing data from United States- based Guttmacher Institute, Popcom said around 1,000 Filipino women die annually from abortion complications.
Popcom added that a Guttmacher Institute report stated about 100,000 women were hospitalized for abortion complications in 2012.
The Guttmacher Institute said these were due to the fear of the side effects of family-planning methods and not knowing about and where to get these contraceptives.
“The RPRH law is our staunchest defense against induced abortions in the country,” Perez said.
Last week the Popcom said the expiration of permits issued for modern contraceptives could lead to at least a thousand mothers dying every year by 2022.
Perez said that, with the lapse in the CPR of Implanon, a popular implant that is being distributed for free by the government, there would have already been 500,000 unintended births and 1,100 maternal deaths between June 2016 and March 2017.
He said, on average, with the absence of more modern contraceptives, they expect that there could be an average of 800 to 1,000 maternal deaths every year.
A comprehensive RH program makes available to women, couples, their adolescent children and their families—especially those who have less in life—a full range of contraceptive methods, free of charge, if not at a low cost, and where family-planning (FP) information and services are responsive to the needs of the clients across the nation.
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 guarantees universal access to contraceptive methods, sexuality education, and maternal and child care.
President Duterte administration fully supports modern, artificial and safe FP methods. POPCOM, on the other hand, said progressive quarters within the Catholic Church are open-spirited to the ideals of responsible parenthood.