In the Philippines when is

the best time to get

married and have kids?
 Responsible
Parenthood and
Reproductive
health
OBJECTIVES

 1.Explain the concepts of responsible

parenthood and reproductive health.

 2. Explain the provision of the RH law.


3. Identify the different controversies
surrounding the RH law
in the Philippines.
Reproductive health – is
the state of complete
physical, mental, and
social well being, not
merely the absence of
disease or infirmity, in all
matters relating to the
reproductive system.
 Family planning –
is part of a
couple’s
reproductive
health.
 It is the practice
of deciding the
number of
children and
spacing of their
children through
natural or
artificial
contraception.
 Reproductive rights – These
include the right to plan a
family, use contraceptives,
and gain access to reproductive
health services.
Contraception – Is a
method of family
planning.
It may either be
artificial or Natural
Reproductive
Health Law
Reproductive Health Law
Responsible Parenthood
and Reproductive Health
act of 2012
RA 10354
The goals of RH Law:
1.Promote Different
kinds of contraception
2.Sexual Education
3.Maternal Care
Historyof Reproductive
Health Law in the Philippines.
 1967 - Former President Marcos
signed the Declaration of
Population.
 This declaration stated that the
problem of overpopulation hinders
economic progress.
 The Population Commission was
created in order to encourage
citizens to control the size of their
family and information on how to
decrease fertility rate were given
by the commission.
 TheUS helped in the programs of
the Philippine government to
control population growth by
funding a total of 80% of
contraceptives.
 1989- the Philippine Legislators
Committee on Population and
Development was created.
 2000- The Philippines signed the
Millenium Declaration (M.D.) and
promised to fulfill gender equality
alongside with other Millenuim
Development Goals.
 2012– RA 10354 or RH Law was
signed.
 IMPORTANT
PROVISIONS PF
THE LAW
 Section 2. Declaration of Policy. –,
the right to sustainable human
development, the right to health
which includes reproductive
health, the right to education and
information, and the right to
choose and make decisions for
themselves in accordance with their
religious convictions, ethics,
cultural beliefs, and the demands of
responsible parenthood.
The State shall protect and
promote the right to health of
women especially mothers in
particular and of the people in
general and instill health
consciousness among them. The
family is the natural and
fundamental unit of society.
The State shall likewise
protect and advance the
right of families in particular
and the people in general to
a balanced and healthful
environment in accord with
the rhythm and harmony of
nature. The State also
recognizes and guarantees
the promotion and equal
protection of the welfare
and rights of children, the
youth, and the unborn.
 Moreover, the State recognizes
and guarantees the promotion
of gender equality, gender
equity, women empowerment
and dignity as a health and
human rights concern and as a
social responsibility. The
advancement and protection
of women’s human rights shall
be central to the efforts of
the State to address
reproductive health care.
 Section 3. Guiding Principles for
Implementation. – This Act declares the
following as guiding principles:
 (a) The right to make free and informed
decisions, which is central to the exercise of
any right, shall not be subjected to any form of
coercion and must be fully guaranteed by the
State, like the right itself;

 (b)Respect for protection and fulfillment of

reproductive health and rights which seek to
promote the rights and welfare of every
person particularly couples, adult individuals,
women and adolescents;
 (c)Since human resource is among
the principal assets of the country,
effective and quality reproductive
health care services must be given
primacy to ensure maternal and
child health, the health of the
unborn, safe delivery and birth of
healthy children, and sound
replacement rate, in line with the
State’s duty to promote the right to
health, responsible parenthood,
social justice and full human
development;
 d)The provision of ethical and medically
safe, legal, accessible, affordable, non-
abortifacient, effective and quality
reproductive health care services and
supplies is essential in the promotion of
people’s right to health, especially those
of women, the poor, and the
marginalized, and shall be incorporated
as a component of basic health care;

 (e)The State shall promote and provide

information and access, without bias,
(5) conduct scientific
studies to determine the
safety and efficacy of
alternative medicines
and methods for
reproductive health care
development;
 The RH Law also mandates the
following:
 1.Information and education
regarding family planning
 2.Treatment of post abortion
complications
 3.Education and counselling on
sexuality.
 4.Prevention and treatment of
infertility.
 5.Requiring LGUs to have adequate
number of midwives.
 WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON ABORTION?
 Issues Related to the
Reproductive Health Law
The Issue of
Abortion
Abortion may be
done through an
operation,
Taking of medicine
massage and;
others means
 Inthe Philippines,
abortion is
considered taboo
because of its
legal, religious,
cultural and
societal
implications.
The 1987
Philippine
Constitution states
that:
 Section 12. The State recognizes the
sanctity of family life and shall protect
and strengthen the family as a basic
autonomous social institution. It shall
equally protect the life of the mother
and the life of the unborn from
conception. The natural and primary
right and duty of parents in the rearing of
the youth for civic efficiency and the
development of moral character shall
receive the support of the Government.
PRO ABORTION?

ANTI ABORTION?
When the Philippines was
still under Spanish rule,
abortion was prohibited as
in ran contrary to the
teachings of the Catholic
Church.
According to the law
there are two kinds
of abortion:
 Intentional (Intent to abort the fetus)
 Unintentional (Caused by violence, but
unintentionally)
Any woman who shall
commit this offense
to conceal her
dishonor,
Ifthis crime be committed
by the parents of the
pregnant woman or either
of them, and they act with
the consent of said woman
for the purpose of
concealing her dishonor
any physician or midwife
who, taking advantage of
their scientific knowledge
or skill, shall cause an
abortion or assist in
causing the same.
Any pharmacist who,
without the proper
prescription from a
physician, shall
dispense any abortive
Ifthis crime be committed
by the parents of the
pregnant woman or either
of them, and they act with
the consent of said woman
for the purpose of
concealing her dishonor
ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS?
Exception;
 under the general criminal law principles of necessity as
set forth in article 11(4) of the Code, an abortion may
be legally performed to save the pregnant woman’s life.
 Simply said abortion can be performed if the life of the
mother is endangered because of delicate pregnancy.
The stand of the Catholic
Church on RH law
WHY DID THE
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
LAW BECOME TOO
CONTROVERSIAL?
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE
OPPOSE IT?
 Role of the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church has
a big influence in
Philippines society,
especially in terms on
reproductive health
despite on the
separation of the Church
and State.
The Catholic
Church
believes that
life begins at
conception,
therefore
abortion is
equal to killing
a baby.
Because of this, there
are cases of women
needing medical
services related to
abortion who were
turned away by doctors.
The influence of the
Catholic Church leads
many Filipinos to
believe that a woman
should not get
pregnant if she is not
married.
The only method of
controlling the family
size according to the
Church is the natural
way.
The role of the
government in abortion
Abortion is becoming
one of the problems of
the government due to
the danger it poses to
the lives of women.
 Thegovernment launched a
program for the comprehensive
sex education for the youth and
large scale distribution of
contraceptives

 This
is known as the Prevention
and Management of Abortion
and its Complications (PMAC)
Controversy on
the RH Law
The case of Imbong and Ochoa
 JAMES IMBONG AND LOVELY-ANN IMBONG,for themselves
and in behalf of their minor children

 VS.

 HON.PAQUITO OCHOA
 Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10354,
otherwise known as the
Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health Act of 2012
(RH Law), was enacted by
Congress on December 21,
2012.
 Challengers from
various sectors of
society are
questioning the
constitutionality of
the said Act. The
petitioners are
assailing the
constitutionality of
RH Law on the
following grounds:
  According to the
petitioners,
notwithstanding its
declared policy against
abortion, the
implementation of the
RH Law would authorize
1.The the purchase of hormonal
contraceptives, intra-
RH Law uterine devices and
injectables which are
violates abortives, in violation of
Section 12, Article II of
the right the Constitution which
guarantees protection
to life of of both the life of the
mother and the life of
the the unborn from
conception.
unborn.
 2.The RH  The petitioners posit
that the RH Law
Law violates provides universal
access to
the right to contraceptives which
are hazardous to one's
health and health, as it causes
the right to cancer and other health
problems.
protection
against
hazardous
products.
  For the
 3.The RH petitioners, the
Law use of public
funds for purposes
violates that are believed
the right to be contrary to
their beliefs is
to religious included in the
constitutional
freedom. mandate ensuring
religious freedom.
  According to the
petitioners, the RH Law
subjects medical
practitioners to
involuntary servitude
 4.The RH because, to be
accredited under the
Law violates PhilHealth program,
the they are compelled to
constitutiona provide forty-eight
l provision hours of services for
indigent women,
on under threat of
involuntary criminal prosecution,
servitude. imprisonment and
other forms of
punishment.
  Thepetitioners
argue that, rather
than promoting
reproductive
5.The RH health among the
Law poor, the RH Law
violates the seeks to introduce
right to contraceptives
that would
equal
effectively reduce
protection the number of the
of the law. poor.
 6.The RH  In imposing the
penalty of
Law is "void- imprisonment
for- and/or fine for
vagueness" in "any violation," it
is vague because it
violation of does not define
the due the type of
process conduct to be
treated as
clause of the "violation" of the
Constitution. RH Law.
  The petitioners note
7.The RH that although
Law exemption is granted
to institutions owned
violates the and operated by
religious groups, they
right to are still forced to
refer their patients
free to another
healthcare facility
speech. willing to perform
the service or
procedure
 8.The  It is contended that
RH
the RH Law
Law intrudes providing for
into the zone mandatory
reproductive health
of privacy of education intrudes
one's family upon their
constitutional right
protected by to raise their
the children in
accordance with
Constitution. their beliefs.
Argument and
Decision