RH LAW in the Philippines

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of

2012 (Republic Act No. 10354), informally known as the Reproductive
Health Law or RH Law, is a law in the Philippines, which guarantees
universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual
education, and maternal care.

While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child
health, there is great debate on its mandate that the Philippine government
and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread distribution of
family planning devices such as condoms, birth control pills, and IUDs, as the
government continues to disseminate information on their use through all
health care centers.

Passage of the legislation was controversial and highly divisive, with experts,
academics, religious institutions, and major political figures declaring their
support or opposition while it was pending in the legislature. Heated debates
and rallies both supporting and opposing the RH Bill took place nationwide.

The Supreme Court delayed implementation of the law in March 2013 in

response to challenges. On April 8, 2014, the Court ruled that the law was
"not unconstitutional" but struck down eight provisions partially or in full
 PAMIMIGAY NG CONDOM
-Maria Theresa Olunan

Ang pamimigay ng condom sa mga estudyante ay

walang maidudulot na tama. Bilang estudyante , mali ang
hakbang na ito ng DOH sapagkat pilit nilang binubuksan
ang kainosentehan at walang kamuwang-muwang na
pag-iisip ng mga estudyante tungkol sa pakikipagtalik.
Sa mata ng karamihan ito ay tama para lamang
maiwasan ang maagang pagbubuntis. Pero kailangan
lang nating maging edukado o maging responsible sa
bagay na ito. Ang kailangan ng estudyante ay edukasyon
at hindi ang mga kagamitang nag-uudyok sa kanila na
subukan ang pakikipagtalik .
Alam naman nating mas marami parin sa atin ang
sarado ang isipan pagdating sa bagay na ito. Pero para
sakin naniniwala parin akong ang pakikipagtalik ay para
lamang sa mga mag-asawang binigyan ng basbas ng
altar o awtoridad ang maaaring magtalik. Dagdag na
kaalaman o sex education ang dapat na isulong at hindi
ang pamimigay ng condom sa mga estudyante.
At bilang estudyante, walang magandang
maidudulot satin ang kaalamang nagbibigay sila ng
condo sa mag estudyanteng.
1.To respond to the clamor of the Philippine population who want the Reproductive
Health Care Bill passed into law
Filipinos are clamoring for the passage of the Reproductive Health Care Bill (RH bill) into law.
The 2008 national and Manila City surveys of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) both confirm
that majority of Filipinos want the RH bill passed into law, 71% and 86%, respectively.
The poor women, adolescent women, rural and indigenous women are the ones most affected
by the lack of a reproductive health care policy. They are the ones who have the most
unintended pregnancies and closely-spaced pregnancies. Their births are commonly
unattended by trained health professionals.
2. To prevent unintended pregnancies
About half of all pregnancies in the Philippines (approximately 1.43 million a year)1 are
unintended. The Health Department has noted that Filipino women on average have one child
more than they want.
3. To prevent maternal deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth
Daily , there are 11 women dying while giving birth in the Philippines. Not a single death should
happen due to pregnancy and childbirth. These preventable deaths could have been avoided if
more Filipino women have had access to reproductive health information and health care.
4. To prevent infant mortality
Adequate birth spacing is important for the health of the woman and the children. Birth spacing
of four or more years can increase the survival rate of children less than five years of age. The
under-five mortality rate11 for children born less than two years after a previous birth is 54
deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with 25 deaths per 1,000 for children born after an
interval of four or more years.
5. To help individuals and couples choose freely and responsibly when to have children
Knowing which medically safe and effective methods of contraception to use will help individuals
and couples determine freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children.
This in turn should ensure that all children are wanted and loved and will be properly provided
for by their parents.
6. To reduce abortion rates
Increased access to information and services on modern contraceptive methods will reduce the
number of unwanted pregnancies, eliminate the need for abortion, and prevent maternal deaths.
It is unfortunate though that the proposed law that could reduce the number of abortions is
being opposed by fundamentalist groups..
7. To give rape victims a better chance to heal from their ordeal
Giving rape victim access to emergency contraception (EC) like levonorgestrel can help them
prevent unwanted pregnancies.

8. To prevent early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases especially among

adolescents
The Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care Bill (RH bill) recommends that the government
provide mandatory reproductive health education starting at Grade 5. According to our
obligations under CEDAW, teenage pregnanciespresent a significant obstacle to girls
educational opportunities and economic empowerment. It is the governments duty to give
priority attention to the situation of adolescents and that it provide sex education, targeted at
girls and boys, with special attention to the prevention of early pregnancies and sexually
transmitted diseases.
9. To address the rising HIV/AIDS cases
The HIV epidemic in the Philippines is steadily growing. At the start of 2010, there are already
four new cases being reported every month compared to the two new cases reported monthly in
2009. According to the estimates of Dr. Enrique Tayag, Director of the National Epidemiology
Center (NEC), there will be an additional 1,500 Filipinos newly-infected by HIV by December
2010 and around 4,000 - 7,000 by 2011.
10. To avoid the negative impact of large families on poor families
For many poor families, a large family size results in further poverty and lack of access to
education and health services, among others. There are also studies showing that the eldest or
second eldest from poor, large families end up in prostitution to meet their families needs and
many women from large families also end up being trafficked.
11. To free womens bodies from being held hostage by politics and fundamentalism
Groups such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have continuously
opposed the passage of the RH bill into law. It even identified in its guidelines for the 2010
elections that voters should not vote for candidates who support the RH bill. The above findings
on the negative impact of the non-passage of the RH bill and the restriction of access to modern
contraceptives show that a stance that is against the passage of the RH bill is not responsive to
the needs of the FilipinosCatholics included. Such a stance on the RH bill is detrimental to
womens reproductive rights and to the lives and well-being of Filipinos especially the poor. In
fact, the results of the 2010 election prove that many Catholic-backed candidates did not win in
the elections.
 PROVISIONS OF RH LAW
SECTION I. The official title of the bill is The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and
Population and Development Act of 2011.

SECTION II. Declaration of Policy

The States recognition and guarantee of the basic human right to reproductive health.
The States recognition and guarantee of the promotion of gender equality, equity and women's
empowerment.
The States guarantee of access to safe, legal, affordable, effective and quality health care
services.
The eradication of practices, laws and policies that infringe on a person's exercise of
reproductive health rights.
SECTION III. Guiding Principles

Freedom of choice.
Welfare of couples, adult individuals, women and adolescents.
Safe delivery of children through effective reproductive health care.
Provision of reproductive health care services, particularly the poor.
Promotion of natural and modern family planning methods.
Coordination between national and local governments in the promotion of fact-based family
planning programs.
Making available reproductive health information.
Multi-sectoral effort to address the priority needs of the poor, especially women.
Care for women needing care for post-abortion complications. Abortion continues to be illegal.
There will be no population targets and growth rate will depend on the success of the
promotion of reproductive health and sustainable development.
Need to ensure that the nations resources are better allocated.
Development of processes that will uplift the quality of life, particularly the poor and
marginalized.
SECTION IV. Definition of Terms

SECTION V. Midwives for Skilled Attendance

LGUs to hire midwifes, assisted by the DOH.

Desired ratio of one midwife per 150 deliveries per year.
SECTION VI. Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care.

Upgrade of city and provincial hospitals for better emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
 Target of one hospital with comprehensive and four with basic emergency obstetric and
neonatal care per 500,000 individuals.
SECTION VII. Access to Family Planning

Accredited health care facilities to provide modern family methods.

PhilHealth to shoulder expenses for these services for the poor.
SECTION VIII. Maternal and Newborn Health Care in Crisis Situations

Provision of Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health as part of
governments response to disasters and other instances of emergencies.
Evacuation centers and refugee camps shall be equipped to handle normal and complicated
deliveries, pregnancy complications, miscarriages and post-abortion complications, spread of
HIV/AIDS and sexual and gender-related violence.
SECTION IX. Maternal Death Review

The conduct of an annual maternal death review by LGUs.

SECTION X. Family Planning Supplies as Essential Medicines

Products and supplies for family planning shall be among the essential medicines and supplies
of national and local hospitals as well as other government health units.
SECTION XI. Procurement and Distribution of Family Planning Supplies

The DOH shall spearhead the purchase and distribution of family planning supplies.
The supply and budget allotment for these supplies shall be based on acquired data.
SECTION XII. Integration of Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Component in Anti-Poverty
Programs

Anti-poverty programs shall have a responsible parenthood and family planning component as
provided by the DOH.
SECTION XIII. Roles of Local Government in Family Planning

LGUs to make sure that poor families are given preferential access to family planning services.
The role of the Population Officers to be strengthened.
Barangay Health Workers and volunteers to give priority to family planning work.
SECTION XIV. Benefits for Serious and Life-Threatening Health Conditions

Maximum benefits to be provided by the PhilHealth for HIV/AIDS, breast and reproductive tract
cancer, obstetric complications and menopausal/post-menopausal conditions.
SECTION XV. Mobile Health Care Service

Mobile Health Care Service (MHCS) for every congressional district.

The MHCS will deliver health care supplies and services, particularly the poor.
SECTION XVI. Mandatory Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health and Sexuality Education

To be taught by trained teachers in both formal and non-formal education.

From Grade 5 to Fourth Year High School.
SECTION XVII. Additional Duty of the Local Population Officer
 The Population Officer will provide free instructions and information on responsible
parenthood, family planning, breastfeeding, infant nutrition and other relevant topics to all
who are applying for a marriage license.
SECTION XVIII. Certificate of Compliance

The Local Civil Registrar will not grant a marriage license unless a couple can produce a
Certificate of Comliance that says that the couple has undergone the responsible parenthood
seminar given by by the Population Officer.
SECTION XIX. Capability Building of Barangay Health Workers

Training on the promotion of reproductive health for Barangay health and other communith
healt workers.
10% increase in honorarium for those who complete the training.
SECTION XX. Ideal Family Size

The State will provide assistance in the determination of the ideal family size within the
context of responsible parenthood.
Encouragement for couples to have two children; but this is not mandatory.
SECTION XXI. Employers' Responsibilities

Employers to respect the reproductive rights of employees.

Employers with more than 200 employees shall provide reproductive health services on site.
Additional provisions for pregnant workers.
SECTION XXII. Pro Bono Services for Indigent Women

Private and non-government health care service providers are mandated to provide at least 48
hours annually of reproductive health services free of charge to the poor.
This is to be a prerequisite to PhilHealth accreditation.
SECTION XXIII. Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs for Persons with Disabilities

The removal of barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from receiving reproductive
health services in cities and municipalities.
SECTION XXIV. Right to Reproductive Health Care Information

The State guarantees the right of every citizen to provide and receive non-fraudulent
information about the availability of health care services including family planning and natal
care.
Public awareness campaign to be undertaken on the matter courtesy of the DOH and the
Philippine Information Agency.
Legal bases of philippine education system

1. The 4 Dimensions of the Legal Bases of Philippine Education The Philippine Constitution of
1987 The Educational Decree 6-A The Educational Act of 1982 The Educational Act of
1994
2. Philippine Constitution of 1987 Article XIV: Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture
and Sports Quality education accessible to all. Sec. 1 Complete, adequate, and
integrated relevant education. Sec. 2.1
3. FREE public education in the elementary and high school levels. Elementary education is
COMPULSORY for all children of school age. Sec. 2.2 Scholarship programs to deserving
students especially to the underprivileged. Sec. 2.3
4. Non-formal, informal and indigenous learning systems . Sec. 2.4 Training in civics,
vocational efficiency, and other skills to adults, the disabled, and out-of-school youth. Sec.
2.4
5. Study of the CONSTITUTION. Sec. 3.1 Study of VALUES. Sec. 3.2 Patriotism Nationalism
Love of humanity Respect of human rights Appreciation of the role of the national heroes
Strengthen ethical and spiritual values Moral character and personal discipline Critical and
creative thinking Scientific and technological knowledge Vocational efficiency
6. Optional religious instruction in public schools. Sec. 3.3 Supervision and regulation of all
educational institutions by the State. Sec. 4.1
7. Control and administration of schools by Filipinos. Sec. 4.2 Exemption from taxes. Sec.
4.3,4
8. Local planning in the development of educational policies and programs. Sec. 5.1
Academic freedom in all institutions of higher learning. Sec. 5.2
9. Right of every citizen to select a profession or course of study. Sec. 5.3 Right of teachers to
professional growth. Non-teaching academic and non-academic personnel shall enjoy the
protection of the State. Sec. 5.4
10. Assigning highest budget priority to education. Sec. 5.5 The national language of the
Philippines is Filipino. Sec. 6
11. Priority to research and technology. Sec.10, 11, 12, 13 Filipino national culture based on
unity in diversity. Sec. 14
12. Ensure equal access to cultural opportunities. Sec. 18.1 Support on researches and
studies on the arts and culture. Sec. 18.2
13. Promote physical education. Sec.19
14. October is National Indigenous Month
15. The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17: "The State shall give priority to education, science
and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development."
16. Scholarship Programs Selected Ethnic Group Educational Assistance Program Study Now
Pay Later Plan Education Student Financial Assistance Program State Scholarship for
Science, Arts and Letters
17. Study Now, Pay Later
18. TESDA
19. RA 7722: Higher Education Act of 1994 created the Commission on Higher Education RA
7796: An act creating the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority of 1994
created TESDA
20. RA 9155: An act instituting a framework of governance for basic education, establishing
authority and accountability. DECS renamed DepEd.
21. RA 4670: Magna Carta of 1966 A. Elementary Level BEED Graduate PBET/LET Passer
B. Secondary Level BSE/BSEd Graduate/Bachelors Degree 18 units in major subject/ 18
units of professional education PBET/LET Passer
22. C. Secondary Vocational/Technical Courses Bachelors Degree in specialized field 18
units of professional education D. College Level Masters Degree
23. Education Act of 1982 BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 232 Goals: Accelerate economic
development and social progress. Maximum participation. National unity, consciousness
and values.
24. Innovations: Establishing /upgrading non-formal training programs for out-of-school youths
and unemployed. Educational assistance program or the SNPL plan. Educational
assistance program or the SNPL plan.
25. Family planning in the curriculum. National Textbook Project. Master Teacher Plan.
Program for Decentralized Education Development (PRODED).
26. PRODED Improvement in pupil achievement Decrease in pupil drop-out rates
Improvement in physical facilities Staff development Non-formal education
27. Objectives: Develop a national consciousness Develop Filipino citizens Equalize
educational opportunities Participate in economic development
28. Train manpower in the middle level Develop high level professions Strengthen the
family Educational planning and evaluation
29. Right -a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way Duty
-a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility -a task or action that someone is required to
perform
30. Privilege -a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular
person or group of people
31. Interviews
32. Rights of Students
33. Rights of Students in School Relevant quality education. Sec. 9.1 Choose a field of study.
Sec. 9.2 School guidance and counseling services. Sec. 9.3
34. Rights of Students in School Access own school records. Sec. 9.4 Issuance of official
documents within 30 days from request. Sec. 9.5
35. Rights of Students in School Publish a student newspaper and similar publications, and
invite resource persons. Sec. 9.6 Free expression of opinions and suggestions. Sec. 9.7
36. Rights of Students in School Form, establish, join and participate in organizations and
societies. Sec. 9.8 Free from involuntary contributions. Sec. 9.9
37. Duties/ Responsibilities of Students
38. Duties and Responsibilities of Students Exert utmost effort to develop potentialities. Sec.
15.1 Uphold academic integrity. Sec. 15.2 Promote peace and tranquility. Sec. 15.3
39. Duties and Responsibilities of Students Actively participate in civic affairs and promote
general welfare. Sec. 15.4 Exercise rights responsibly. Sec. 15.5
40. Rights of School Personnel
41. Rights of all School Personnel Free expression of opinions and suggestions, and to
effective channels of communication. Sec. 10.1 Free legal service. Sec. 10.2
42. Rights of all School Personnel Establish, join and maintain organizations. Sec. 10.3 Free
from involuntary contributions. Sec. 10.4
43. Privileges of Teaching/Academic Staff
44. Special Rights and/or Privileges of Teaching/Academic Staff Free from compulsory
assignments not related to duties. Sec. 11.1 Intellectual property. Sec. 11.2
45. Special Rights and/or Privileges of Teaching/Academic Staff Respect and protection. Sec.
11.3 Choose alternative career lines. Sec. 11.4
46. Teachers Obligations
47. Teachers Obligations Perform duties in accordance with the philosophy, goals and
objectives of the school. Sec. 16.1 Efficient and effective attainment of learning objectives.
Sec. 16.2
48. Teachers Obligations Regular reports on students performance. Sec. 16.3 Professional
growth and behavior. Sec. 16.4
49. Teachers Obligations Refrain from making unreasonable deductions in students scholastic
rating. Sec. 16.5 Agent of constructive change. Sec. 16.6
50. Teachers Benefits
51. Teachers Benefits Study Leave/Sabbatical Leave Indefinite Leave Maternity Leave
Vacation Leave with pay 1 range salary raise upon retirement
52. Teachers Privileges
53. Teachers Privileges Academic Freedom Free physical exam and medical treatment or
hospitalization Salary scale Cost of living allowance Additional compensation for
service excess of 6 hours actual classroom teaching, hardship allowance and automatic
retirement promotion
54. Obligations of Academic Non-Teaching Personnel
55. Obligations of Academic Non-Teaching Personnel Professional development. Sec.18.1
Assume, promote and maintain and atmosphere conducive to service and learning. Sec.18.2
56. Obligations of Academic Non-Teaching Personnel Promote and maintain and atmosphere
conducive to service and learning. Sec.18.3
57. Special Rights of School Administrator
58. Special Rights of School Administrator Administrative discretion. Respect and protection.
Sec. 12
59. School Admistrators Obligations
60. School Administrators Obligations Perform duties in accordance with the philosophy, goals
and objectives of the school. Sec. 17.1 Efficient and effective administration and
management. Sec. 17.2
61. School Administrators Obligations Healthy school atmosphere and relationship. Sec. 17.3
Professional behavior. Sec. 17.4 Performance reports. Sec. 17.4
62. School Administrators Obligations Discipline school personnel. Sec. 17.3 Maintain
records and submit reports to the DepEd. Sec. 17.4
63. Rights of PARENTS
64. Rights of Parents Organize a forum for discussion by by themselves and/or with teachers.
Sec. 8.1 Access to any official record directly relating to his/her child. Sec. 8.1
65. Duties of PARENTS
66. Duties of Parents Carry out educational objectives. Sec. 14.1 Obliged to enable children
to obtain elementary education. Sec. 14.2 Cooperate with the school. Sec. 14.3
67. Rights of SCHOOLS
68. Rights of Schools Governance. Sec. 18.1 Academic Freedom. Sec. 18.2
69. AIMS of SCHOOLS
70. Aims of ALL Educational Institutions Inculcate love of country Teach duties of citizenship
Develop moral character and personal discipline Develop scientific, technological and
vocational efficiency