Society for the Advancement of Reproductive Health - Philippines: Manifesto of Support

We the officers and members of the Society for Advancement of Reproductive Health-Philippines (SARH-PHILS) composed of medical experts and allied health professionals in the field of reproduction, contraception, family planning and obstetric care fully support the enactment of a national policy on Responsible Parenthood-Reproductive Health Bill (4244).

We support the passage of a firm national policy on responsible parenthood-reproductive health bill (4244) for the following reasons:

The RH Bill Is Pro Life. The RH Bill protects life and promotes the wellbeing of families, especially of women and their children. The bill guarantees complete information and access to “medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality” natural and modern family planning methods and seeks “to prevent unwanted, unplanned and high risk pregnancies”.

The RH Bill Is Pro Women. The RH Bill alms to reduce the maternal mortality rate, currently pegged at 162 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The national government has admitted that it is unlikely to meet the country's Millennium Development Goal target of bringing it down by three-fourths (to 52 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) by 2015 (NEDA and UNCT 2007). Women who are pregnant at short intervals (i.e. less than 24 months have greater risk of premature labor, and a greater threat of bleeding during delivery. Couples that lengthen the interval between pregnancies allow for mothers to take time to heal and rebuild their natural supply of nutrients in the body.

Contraceptives are essential medicines. The World Health Organization has included contraceptives in the list of most efficacious, safe and cost-effective medicines for priority conditions. Contraception can prevent unplanned and high risk pregnancies as well as protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Contraceptives are not abortifacient. Contraceptives act before fertilization and thus not cause abortion.

A law on RH can prevent abortions. Studies have shown that In the Philippines, an estimated 473,000 abortions occur annually (Guttmacher Study, 2009). The same studies show that those who resort to abortion do not have the capacity to use any means to plan their family. Only 22% of all women and 34% of married women are using modern contraceptives (NDHS, 2008).

A law on RH can empower adolescents to be sexually responsible. Studies have shown that adolescents lack knowledge on sexual and reproductive health, lack access to contraceptives, and do not have access to support to manage the consequences of sexual assault. With proper comprehensive, age-appropriate, relevant, and values-laden sexuality education, adolescents will be better equipped to be responsible for their sexuality and reproductive decisions.

A law on RH can help couples plan their family. With the help of an RH legislation in place, couples can decide freely on when to have a child, as well as spacing Intervals between children to promote and maintain the health and well being of their family. The desired number of children can be decided as a matter of choice, depending on the ability of couples to love, care, and provide for each additional child.

That, because of the above mentioned reasons, we, together with our members give our unequivocal support to the passage of the responsible parenthood-reproductive health bill (4244).

Done this 12th day of September, 2011 here In Pan Pacific Hotel, Malate Manila, Philippines.

Download pdf (with signatories) from here