Bishop tells DOH: Focus on medical facilities, not contraceptives

A Catholic bishop has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to turn its focus on improving medical facilities and other pressing health issues in the country instead of giving too much attention to distribution of contraceptives.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chair of the Episcopal Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), made the remark amid the P1-billion budget cut for the government’s responsible parenting program.

READ: Legarda defends DOH budget cut; Pia Cayetano, Santiago furious

“Kaya nga ang sinasabi natin na ‘yung health ng mga tao ay alagaan nila. Ang problema ng iba ay hindi lang ‘yung contraceptives. Ang problema ay wala nga silang health workers, wala nga silang health clinic, wala ngang mga daan, na kung saan ang mga may sakit ay matutulungan,” Pabillo said in an interview with Radyo Veritas.

“Huwag dapat nilang tingnan ang reproductive health sa pamamagitan ng contraceptives,” he added.

Pabillo said the government should focus on maximizing population as a resource in improving the country’s economy instead of regarding as a societal problem.

“Population is not a problem it should be a resource. Kaya ayusin nila yung education, yung health ng mga tao. And later on yang population na yan magiging resource natin yan. Ang masama kasi sa paningin na nakita nila na ang buhay ng tao ay expense, yun ang masamang pananaw dun,” Pabillo said.

The budget for the reproductive health program was redirected to the purchase of air assets for the military and to the increase of budgets of state colleges and universities. But Sen. Loren Legarda said a portion of the amount was realigned within the DOH to provide for health facilities and assistance to indigent patients.