RH Law implementing rules OK by end of March says DOH

The Department of Health held a consultation on the draft Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 10354, otherwise known as the “Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012” in Cebu City yesterday.

To allay fears of pro-life groups, Department of Health Assistant Secretary Madeline Valera said “The law is not to promote abortion, it is to provide and to strengthen the rights and access to health care.”

The DOH, she added is going on nationwide consultation to finish the draft by March 15 and have it published immediately to meet their target of an IRR to RA 10354 by end of this month.

Valera said representatives of the Catholic Church have participated in the drafting the rules, expressed their opinions in the process, recommended insertions and some deletions.

She also clarified that the law standardizes reproductive health care services. And modern family planning methods that are consistent with the people’s needs and their religious conviction will get funding support from government.

Antonio Valle, Chairman of the Pro-Life and Family Volunteers, Inc., who was present in the consultation yesterday said they attended the consultation as observer.

“The draft is there already, it just needs formality,” he said.

Anti-RH groups have questioned the constitutionality of RA 10354.

But even if the Supreme Court upholds the law’s constitutionality, Valle said they would still continue their pro-life advocacy elsewhere.

Fr. Bartolome Sagadal, chaplain of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said the issue now is not much on how RA 10354 will be implemented as the differences between the government and the Church is more substantial.

“Ours is the human response because we want to protect life. Natural family planning is the safest way. No side effects, you do not contradict the law. We just have to follow our conscious and our conscience is on how far is the level of our awareness,” Sagadal added.

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act was signed by President Benigno Aquino III last December 21, 2012. It became effective last January 13, 2013.

It took 13 years for the House of Representatives and the Senate to pass the law.

The goal of legislating responsible parenthood and reproductive health has always been to save mother’s lives, and not to control population, Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona said in a statement.

He also added that the implementation of the law is very urgent in order to reduce the country’s high maternal mortality rate by using a mix of reproductive health care services like modern family methods, safe deliveries, adequate blood supply and, and quality care at health facilities.