MALACAÑANG welcomed Saturday the positive remark by the United Nations (UN) on President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of Executive Order (EO) 12 that aims for strict and immediate implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law.
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the President signed the EO to ensure that the government fulfills the needs of Filipino families for appropriate family planning support.
“The signing of the executive order on Reproductive Health reflects the President’s stance on the issue and shows his strong position on the importance of the implementation of Reproductive Health,” Andanar said in a statement.
“Reproductive health forms part of President Duterte’s 10 point socio-economic agenda. To have a marked reduction of poverty incidence, the President’s economic managers believe that we must have strong economic growth and fast track the generation of millions of jobs in the next six years, complemented by the full implementation of RH Law,” he added.
On January 9, Duterte signed EO 12 to make sure that the “zero unmet need for family planning” would be attained through the implementation of RPRH Law.
The EO aims to grant couples and individuals a free reproductive health services and contraceptives options from the government.
The United Nations Population Fund lauded Duterte, saying that his order was a “major push” for the government’s family planning program.
“The full and immediate implementation of RPRH Law is critically important for the government to deliver on its family planning program, which has been identified by President Duterte as one of his priorities when he assumed office,” UNFPA country representative Klaus Beck said.
Andanar then expressed optimism that the Duterte administration would get “stronger collaboration” with international bodies like UNFPA, as well as with the non-governmental organizations and the private sector, in order to implement quality modern family planning information and services. (SunStar Philippines)