ABOUT RH LAW:

1967 - It was in December 1967 when seventeen heads of state, including then Philippine President
Ferdinand E. Marcos, signed the United Nations Declaration on Population which stressed: The
Population problem must be recognized as a principal element in long-range planning, if governments are
to achieve their economic goals and fulfill the aspirations of their people.

1970 - On this year, the 1969 Ad Hoc Commission on Population recommended the launch of the
National Population Program was officially launched through the Executive Order No. 233. The
Commission on Population (POPCOM) was mandated to serve as the central coordinating and policy
making body of the government in the field of population.

1971 - The Republic Act 6365, known as the Population Act of the Philippines was enacted into law by
Congress, creating the Commission on Population.

1972 - The Presidential Decree  No. 79  was signed, revising RA 6365 thereby strengthening the
population program directing public and private sectors to undertake a National Family Planning Program
which respects the religious beliefs and values of individuals.

1975 - Presidential Decree 166 further strengthened the Program. It required the participation of private
organizations and individuals in the formulation and implementation of population programs and policies.

1986 - Executive Order No. 123 attached POPCOM to the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), as the planning and coordinating agency.

1987 - Policy statement under the Aquino Administration was issued by the POPCOM Board which
states: “the ultimate goal of the Population Program is the improvement of the quality of human life in a
just and humane society… The achievement of this goal requires a recognition of the close
interrelationships among population, resources and environmental factors.”

During Corazon Aquino Administration: focus is on giving couples the right to have the number of
children they prefer

1990 -Executive Order No. 408, was issued placing POPCOM under the Office of the President in order
to “facilitate coordination of policies and programs relative to population.”

1991 - Executive Order No. 476 was issued making POPCOM an attached agency of the National
Economic and Development Authority.

1993 - Adoption of the Philippine Population Management Program and the Population, Resources and
Environment Framework by the Ramos Administration.

During Ramos Administration:focus shifted from population control to population management.

1999 - The Estrada Administration reformulated the Philippine Population Management Program with
Responsible Parenthood as its lynchpin.

During Estrada Administration: used mixed methods of reducing fertility rates and on mainstreaming
natural family planning, while stating that contraceptives are openly sold in the country.

2003 - On March 24, 2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 188 attaching
POPCOM to the Department of Health.

2005 - In a Statement of Support, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined “the community of nations in
expressing support for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).”? The
statement also reiterated the principles that guide the Philippine government in the implementation of
population program. These principles are based on the four (4) pillars of Responsible Parenthood,
Respect for Life, Birth Spacing, and Informed Choice. Health services, including Reproductive Health
services, are devolved by the Local Government Code to the local government units. Local Government
Units have the responsibility of providing couples and individuals with information and services to enable
them to exercise Responsible Parenthood.

2006 - On October 10, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued guidelines and directive for the
DOH, POPCOM, and local government units to take full charge of the implementation of the Responsible
Parenthood and Family Planning Program. The Responsible Parenthood and Natural Family Planning
Program ‘s primary policy objective is to promote natural family planning, birth spacing (three years birth
spacing) and breastfeeding which are good for the health of the mother, child, family, and community.
While LGUs can promote artificial family planning because of local autonomy, the national government
advocates natural family planning.
Republic Act No. 10354:

 Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012

 Reproductive Health Law
 RH Law
 Enacted on December 21, 2012
 Took effect on January 17, 2013
 The most divisive law enacted: Religion and Politics | Church and State

GENERAL DEFINITION:

The law guarantees universal access to methods on: 

1. Safe contraception
2. Fertility control
3. Sexual education
4. Maternal care

 which do not prevent the implantation of a fertilized ovum as determined by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
 which prioritizes the needs of women, children and other underprivileged sectors - who shall be
voluntary beneficiaries of reproductive health care, services and supplies for free.
 that guarantees universal and free access to nearly all modern contraceptives for all citizens,
including impoverished communities, at government health centers. The law also mandates
reproductive health education in government schools and recognizes a woman's right to post-abortion
care as part of the right to reproductive healthcare.

WHERE IT STARTED:

The Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) traces the first step of
the RH law

1. HB 8110 filed on August 16, 1999. It was the 11th Congress. The proposed “Integrated
Population and Development Act of 1999” pushed for “universal access to reproductive health
services, including family planning and sexual health.” – Five solons filed the first bill and among
them was the daughter of 15th Congress RH bill sponsor Albay Rep Edcel Lagman - Cielo Krisel
Lagman-Luistro. The other four are Luwalhati Antonino, Carlos Cojuangco, Bellaflor Angara-
Castillo, Nereus Acosta, and Edith Yotono-Villanueva.
2. HB 4110 was the first bill to be called the “RH bill.” Rep Bellaflor Angara.
3. HB 4244

3.1. Product of the consolidation of 6 house bills:

 HB 96, "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood
and Population Development, and for Other Purposes," introduced by Rep Edcel Lagman
 HB 101, "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population
Development, and for Other Purposes," introduced by Rep Janette Garin
 HB 513, "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and Population
Development, and for Other Purposes,: introduced by Reps. Kaka Bag-Ao and Rep Walden Bello
 HB1160, "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health and for Other Purposes,"
introduced by Rep. Rodolfo Biazon
 HB 1520, "An Act to Protect the Right of People to Information on Reproductive Health Care,"
introduced by Rep Augusto Syjuco
 HB 3387, "An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health for Women in
Development and for Other Purposes," introduced by Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi De
Jesus

2. Bills were substituted by the lone HB 4244 after discussions in the Committee on Population and
Family Relations. The substitution is indicated by Committee Report 684, submitted to the office of the
House Speaker 21 February 2011. Rep Lagman is the principal author of HB 4244, with 103
representatives listed as co-authors.

3. RH Bill Politicized: The Role of the Church:

Separation of church and state

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle opposes the
Reproductive Health Bill, along with abortion and contraception. Because 81% of Filipinos are Catholics,
the Catholic Church exerts a strong influence in public and moral life. Its staunch opposition to the bill has
drawn the controversy among non-Catholics and Catholics alike who support the bill whereby many
invoke the principle of separation of church and state.
Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J, one of the drafters of the Philippine Constitution and a prominent lawyer and
writer, explained that the concept of separation of church and state is directed towards the state, rather
than the church, as it is a political concept. Technically it means "non-establishment of religion," as the
Constitution states, "No law shall be passed respecting an establishment of religion." It means that the
state should be guided by the principle that it should support no specific religion and so government
funding should not be allocated for building churches or mosques and not favor any particular religion. It
does not prevent the church, parents, supervisors, teachers and other moral educators from expressing
their views and educating their wards on the morality of their personal and social actions. The Catholic
Church also states that their stand is based on secular reasons and natural law that are both acceptable
to non-Catholics as well. Proponents, on the other hand, state that the church should not meddle in
matters of the state and should focus on religious matters, not political matters.

INTERESTING FACTS:

https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-discussion-with-marilen-danguilan-country-director-of-
population-services-pilipinas-inc

Summary of the Article:

Dr. Marilen Dañguilan wrote to Senator Edgardo Angara, because he, significantly, was the Chairman of
the Committee on Health.

Dr. Marilen Dañguilan

- She is a Medical Doctor

- Country Director of Population Services Pilipinas, Inc
- She played central roles in the complex negotiations around women’s rights and especially health
in the Philippines.
- She led the Technical Working Group of the Philippine Senate Committee on health that brought
about the Generics Law, Magna Carta of Public Health Workers, and the Rooming-in and
Breastfeeding Act. She also helped to draft the National Health Insurance Act of the Philippines.
- She worked with the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA for roles relating to Maternal Death.

Why did she write:

o She found out that the primary cause of maternal deaths in the Philippines has something to do
with the health system – the ability to of health facilities to provide emergency obstetric care to
women. These women who had five, seven, eight kids.
o Nobody among them had heard of family planning and of contraceptives which are actually
available in health facilities.
o Reason: because the mothers get insulted, discriminated and demeaned by health workers, the
people and the Church. They were internally examined in public areas – no privacy. They were
also talked down to on religious terms particularly by the Catholic community – way-back when
we were very closed and conservative as to the teachings of the Church. Chismis factor. Adding
influence factor of culture - noting that this was from the time of Pres. Corazon Aquino.