RH Law is a non secular issue #upholdRHLaw

Reproductive health (RH) advocates are dismayed by the ruling of the Supreme Court extending the status quo ante order (SQAO) prohibiting the implementation of the Reproductive Health law.

Dr. Eden Divinagracia, Philippine NGO Council Executive Director said “I am saddened by the vote given by the Supreme Court 8 – 7 further delaying the implementation of the RH law.

As we continue to deliberate on the RH law, Fourteen to fifteen Filipino women die every day from pregnancy and childbirth. The Philippines has the highest teen birth rate among ASEAN countries.

“Our religion should not intervene with the affairs of the state especially when you talk about the health of your constituents.” Divinagracia added.

“I believe that the RH law is beneficial to all whatever their religion maybe. The RH law does not and will never invoke anything to you but what it will do is give you proper information and education which will be beneficial to your well-being. The RH law will give you the right services for your family planning needs. The RH law will teach couples how to plan their family using both the natural family planning method and the modern family planning method.” Divinagracia said.

PNGOC which is composed of 97 national and local based NGOs will continue to promote to all its networks of NGOs, partner organizations and communities nationwide to support for a Reproductive Health Care Act.

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* The maternal mortality ratio is 221 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (NSO, 2011 Family Health Survey), and there are 2.398 M live births annually (UN Population Division, Medium variant, 2010-2015) which means around 5,300 maternal deaths occur per year. Data on married women who do not want any more children are from the 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey of the NSO and ICF Macro. Data on teen (15-19) births in the Philippines and ASEAN countries are from the World Bank’s online database (http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.ADO.TFRT ).

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