PR4RH Calls for the Upholding of Women's Rights and the RPRH Law

Quezon City, Philippines - The Purple Ribbon for Reproductive Health Movement (PR4RH) held a press conference earlier today, 13 January condemning Congress' Bicameral Conference Committee's (BiCam) P1B budget cut for the procurement of contraceptives of the Department of Health's Family Health and Responsible Parenthood Office.

Ms. Lina Bacalando, Dr. Esperanza Cabral, Sen Leticia Ramos-Shahani
and  Cong. Edcel Lagman sit in the panel while Ms. Beth Angsioco of DSWP
and PCPD Executive Director Dr. Jondi Flavier host the press conference.

The said press conference, held at Annabel's Restaurant in Tomas Morato was headed by Former DOH Secretary and RPRH National Implementation Team (NIT) Chair Dr. Esperanza  Cabral together with Former Albay 1st District Representative and RH Bill Lead Author Cong. Edcel Lagman. 

Dr. Cabral and Cong. Lagman were also joined by Former Senator and UN Assistant Secretary General for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs Sen. Leticia Ramos-Shahani and Community Health Worker and Pinagsamang Lakas ng Kababaihan, Kabataan, at ibang Kasarian (PILAKKK) President Magdalena Bacalando.

In a statement released by PR4RH, signed by more than 120 individual and organizational supporters, it called on the "the erring legislators to account and demand remedial action from Congress and the President"

Here is PR4RH's full statement:

No to Bicam Committee’s Cut of DOH Budget for FP!

Uphold the RPRH Law, Uphold Women’s Rights!

DOH officials confirmed the budget cut on FP commodities at a meeting with civil society organizations and other government agencies which are members of the National Implementation Team (NIT) of the RPRH Law. The cut amounting to PhP1B was made by the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) of Congress and will affect the procurement of contraceptives intended mainly for poor women.

The Bicam’s action is arbitrary, unjust and callous. It will thrust millions of poor women who want to plan their pregnancies into uncertainty and the likelihood of unplanned pregnancy - even abortion and maybe maternal death. It will also thrust millions of impoverished families into greater destitution.

How the Bicam arrived at this lamentable decision is unclear. Sen. Legarda alleged that the DOH was slow to expend their FP budget based on half-year June 2015 performance prompting the transfer of funds to the Dept. of National Defense, State universities and other sections within the DOH. (GMA news online, Jan. 09, 2016). On the other hand, Sen. Sotto explained that the cut covered contraceptives, such as condoms and injectables, which were “considered abortifacients and in fact, covered by the Supreme Court TRO” (RG Cruz, ABS-CBN news.com, Jan.01/07/16).

Both explanations are untrue. By the end of 2015, DOH reported that 90% of the funds for contraceptives were expended, leaving them with a measly 87M to expand Family Planning services in 2016. This is barely enough for the FP needs of 80,000 women out of over 4 million with unmet need for contraception. As for the Supreme Court TRO, the restraint in contraceptive procurement covered only the contraceptive implants, which were not included in DOH’s budget request. The TRO does not prevent the purchase of other FP commodities. Sen. Sotto is distorting the facts once more!

Clearly the Bicam action is arbitrary.

Its process of decision making was also nontransparent and undemocratic. Sen. Pia Cayetano, principal sponsor of the RH Law in the Senate complained about the removal saying that “detailed amendments were not readily available from Sen. Legarda’s office” (Jee Geronimo, Rappler, January 07, 2016). Typical of deliberations of the so-called “Third Chamber,” there are no records of the discussion.

The cut is reprehensible given the palpable improvement in people’s lives because of family planning. In depressed communities of Manila, Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) has dramatically risen from close to zero when Mayor Atienza (who banned contraceptives) left office in 2007 to 42% in 2015. Poor women are talking to media about their greater sense of security, wellbeing and confidence, which allows them to be more involved in their community (ANC, The World Tonight, October 14, 2015).

Such accounts jibe with the global evidence that ensuring access to family planning information, supplies and services is “essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women,(and to) supporting the health and development of communities,” (WHO Media centre, May 2015). They also explain why access to family planning and the means to achieve it are “human rights” that States are obligated to “respect,” “protect” and “fulfill.” (Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, undated); and why Sec. 25 of the RH Law explicitly provides that “natural and artificial family planning commodity requirements... and for other reproductive health and responsible parenthood services, shall be included in the subsequent years’ general appropriations.”

In removing the budget for contraceptives, the Bicameral Conference Committee abused its power, discriminated against poor women and their families, and violated their right to health and development.

We must not let this transgression pass. We must call the erring legislators to account and demand remedial action from Congress and the President. We must oppose all efforts to nullify the RPRH Law.

January 13, 2016

Sec. Esperanza Cabral Former DOH Secretary Lead Convenor,  Purple Ribbon for RH Chair, National Implementation Team (NIT) of the RPRH Law	Cong. Edcel Lagman Former Representative, 1st District of Albay RH Bill Lead Author	Sen. Leticia Ramos-Shahani Former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs Former Senator
ACHIEVE, Inc.	Interfaith Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Parenthood, Inc. (IPPRP)	Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood, Inc.  (PSRP)
AKBAYAN Citizen's Action Party	International Youth Council Pilipinas Inc.	Philippine Society of Reproductive Health Nurses
Aksyon Kababaihan	Kaisaka-North Luzon	Philippine  League  of  Government  and  Private   Midwives Inc.  (PLGPMI)
Alliance of Young Health Advocates	Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-anak ng Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino, Inc. (Kakammpi)	Pinag-isang Tinig at Lakas ng Anak-Pawis (PIGLAS)-SENTRO
Alliance of Young Nurse Leaders and Advocates International Inc. (AYNLA International Inc.)	LILAK (Purple Action for Indigenous Women's Rights)	Pinagsamang Lakas ng Kababaihan, Kabataan at ibang Kasarian (PILAKKK)
Al-Mujadillah Foundation,Inc. (AMDF)	Likhaan Center for Women’s Health Inc. (Likhaan)	Roots of Health/Ugat ng Kalusugan
Associated Labor Unions (ALU)-TUCP	Lingap Para Sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS)	SERVE NET, Cordillera - North Luzon
Babae – Negros	Liya-Liya Women Vendors Association	Sorsogon Women's  Network for Development
Bukidnon Active Women’s Federation	MAKALAYA	Tarbilang Foundation, Inc.
Catholics for Reproductive Health (C4RH)	Malayang Lapian ng Kababaihan (MALAYA Ka)	The Forum for Family Planning and Development, Inc
DAP-AYAN TI BABBAE, Cordillera- North Luzon	Mindanao Commission on Women- Iligan Area Core Group of Iligan City	Transform Asia
Davao LGBT Community	National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)	Ugnayang Kababaihan Agapay sa Pamayanan
Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP)	National Youth Commission (NYC)	Ugnayan ng Manggagawa ng Kababaihan ng Group 9 & 10
Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP)	Nisa Ul Haqq fi Bangsamoro	UnyPhil-Women
Filipino Freethinkers	Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK)	Woman Health Philippines
FriendlyCare Foundation, Inc.	Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)	Women's Action Network for Development
GALANG Philippines, Inc	Partido Manggagawa Partylist	Women's Health Care Foundation, Inc. (WHCF)
Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE)	Philippine Center for Population and Development (PCPD)	Women's Initiatives for Society, Culture, and Environment (WISE)
Generation Peace Youth Network	Philippine Legislators’ Commission on Population and Development (PLCPD)	Youth First Initiative Philippines, Inc.
Health Action Information Network (HAIN)	Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare,Inc. (PNGOC)	Dr. Reihana Mohideen, PhD
HIV and AIDS Support House (HASH)	Philippine NGO Support Program (PHANSUP)	Jonathan Monis RH advocate
Jesus Ador President Pacol Gay Organization	Paolo Antonio Fernando RH Advocate and FP User	Maria Cristina Onate  RH advocate
Reigner Jireh Antiquera RH advocate	Melinda J. Esmabe RM-Head Midwife Naga College Foundation Maternity and Birthing Clinic	Pachelle Ann Pacamara, RM Estrogen Birthing Clinic
Faith Bacon RH advocate	Janette Gallardo RM-Staff Isarog Birthing Clinic	Lorna Pajoilas Women with Disability for RH
Rachelle Benavente RM-Staff Calabanga Birthing Home	Raymond Garcia RH advocate	Ernesto M Pernia, PhD  Professor Emeritus UP School of Economics
Criselda Bisda Women with Disability for RH	Patricia M. Gomez, RM, MCHS, Executive Director Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP)	Mary Racelis, PhD Research Scientist and Professorial Lecturer Social Anthropology Ateneo de Manila University
Teresita M. Borgonos  MAKALAYA	Marita Concepcion Castro-Guevara, PhD Associate Professor and Social Researcher  Ateneo de Manila University	Ramon D. San Pascual, MPH Independent Consultant Health and Development, Policy and Advocacy
Florencia Pantaliano Cabatingan Exec. Board Member and Chairperson Women's Committee Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)	Raquel Ignacio RH advocate	Cecilia Banca-Santos President Emeritus Philippine League of Government and Private   Midwives, Inc.  (PLGPMI)
Rommel Castaneda President Camaligan Gay Society	Dr. Esmeraldo T. Ilem, MD, FPOGS President Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood, Inc.  (PSRP)	Anita T. Sescon RH advocate
Marites Racquel Corpuz Women with Disability for RH	Krizelda Jurado, RM Canaman RHU-Birthing	Maria Kristina Siuagan  RH advocate
Janine Cruzet Women with Disability for RH	Wanet Lacsamana RH advocate	Alvin Soreta President Movement of Empowered Gay Society
Gemma Regina C. Cunanan RH advocate	Ruthy D Libatique RH advocate	Leonora Sunit Women with Disability for RH
Alvin Cloyd Dakis, RN, CGDP	Carmi Licerio Women with Disability for RH	Arnel Rostom Deiparine Chief Operating Officer Population Services Pilipinas, Inc. (PSPI)
Jose Mateo R. dela Cruz Chairperson Committee on Participation & Governance, 8th National Youth Parliament	Emma A. Llanto, MD Adolescent Medicine, UP-PGH	Rochit Tanedo Executive Director Creative Collective Center, Inc. (CCCI)
Lloyd delos Angeles, RM,RN Clinician/Trainer Isarog Family Health and Training, Inc.	Magdalena Lopez RH advocate	Maya Tamayo RH Advocate
Florencia Cassanova-Dorotan Undersecretary National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)	Mark Lorico Bombon, Rural Health Unit	G Tongi in behalf of Kababayan Today on LA18
Dr. Eddie Dorotan RH advocate	Rep. Angelina Ludovice Katoh Akbayan Party-list	Rodel Villamora Bicol's Magayon, LGBT Org.
Esper Dowling Vice-Chairperson Philippine Federation for Natural Family Planning (PFNFP)	Krisel Lagman-Luistro Former Tabaco City Mayor and RH advocate	Dr. Jesusa M. Marco RH advocate

*** Editor's Note: I am currently in Penang, Malaysia attending The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Center for Women (ARROW) Strategic Planning Meeting with its partners in 17 countries from South East Asia, South Asia, East and Central Asia, and the Global South. Images taken from Facebook.