What is reproductive health in the Philippines?

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, also known as the Reproductive
Health Law or RH Law, and officially designated as Republic Act No. 10354, is a law in the Philippines,
which guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and
maternal care.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsible_Parenthood_and_Reproductive_Health_Act_of_2012

How important is the Reproductive Health in the Philippines?

Reproductive health implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying, healthy reproductive
system and safer sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when
and how often to do so.
The Philippines has recently passed a law on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health after
several decades of controversy and public debate. The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health
Act of 2012, also known as the Reproductive Health Law or RH Law, and officially designated as
Republic Act No. 10354, is a law in the Philippines, which guarantees universal access to methods on
contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care.
While there is general agreement about its provisions on maternal and child health, there is great debate
on its mandate that the Philippine government and the private sector will fund and undertake widespread
distribution of family planning devices such as condoms, birth control pills, and IUDs, as the government
continues to disseminate information on their use through all health care centers.
Reproductive Health Care, according to the DOH, includes:

● Family Planning Services, counseling and information

● Prenatal, postnatal and delivery care

● Nutrition and health care for infants and children

● Treatment for reproductive tract infections & STDs

● Management of abortion-related complications

● Prevention and appropriate treatment for infertility

● IEC on human sexuality, reproductive health, responsible parenthood

● Male involvement

● Adolescent reproductive health

● Management and treatment of reproductive cancers

● Services to victim/survivors of Violence Against Women

https://doh.gov.ph/node/1376
The bill mandates the government to "promote, without biases, all effective natural and modern methods
of family planning that are medically safe and legal."
Although abortion is recognized as illegal and punishable by law, the bill states that "the government
shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counseled in
a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner".
The bill calls for a "multi-dimensional approach" integrates a component of family planning and
responsible parenthood into all government anti-poverty programs. Age-appropriate reproductive health
and sexuality education is required from grade five to fourth year high school using "life-skills and other
approaches."
The bill also mandates the Department of Labor and Employment to guarantee the reproductive health
rights of its female employees. Companies with fewer than 200 workers are required to enter into
partnership with health care providers in their area for the delivery of reproductive health services.
Employers with more than 200 employees shall provide reproductive health services to all employees in
their own respective health facilities. Those with fewer than 200 workers shall enter into partnerships
with health professionals for the delivery of reproductive health services. Employers shall inform
employees of the availability of family planning. They are also obliged to monitor pregnant working
employees among their workforce and ensure they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for
each month of the pregnancy period that they are employed.
The national government and local governments will ensure the availability of reproductive health care
services like family planning and prenatal care
Any person or public official who prohibits or restricts the delivery of legal and medically safe
reproductive health care services will be meted penalty by imprisonment or a fine.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsible_Parenthood_and_Reproductive_Health_Act_of_2012#Summar
y_of_major_provisions
The new Reproductive Health Act mandates non-sectarian schools to give age-appropriate sexuality
education to students of reproductive age, with parental consent. After amendments introduced in the
Senate, the Act also requires under 18 seeking access to contraception to obtain written parental consen t.

The Act further mandates the Department of Health to procure and distribute reproductive health care
services and supplies through the help of local government units and also emphasises the importance of
maternal and child health, prioritising it in health system updates and emergency care.

In a move aimed at strengthening monitoring and accountability procedures the Act also provides for a
system of maternal death reviews. In June 2012 the Philippine National Statistics Office stated that
maternal deaths in the Philippines had increased from 162 to 221 deaths per 100,000 live births in the
period from 2006 to 2010.

Provisions regarding post-abortion care and counselling were removed before the Act was passed. In a
country where abortion is criminalized for all circumstances including for protecting the woman’s life or
health or where the pregnancy is the result of rape, the deletion of such proposals is likely to have an
adverse effect on women’s health. While it’s concerning that certain provisions in the Reproductive
Health Law were struck down, the Supreme Court has put women first and now the benefits of this law
can finally become a reality for millions of Filipinos

“By no means is this a perfect law, but after over a decade of lobbying by women’s organisations and
medical professionals to enshrine the protection of women’s human right to sexual, reproductive and
maternal healthcare, this is welcome development. The easier it is for women the Philippines to exercise
their reproductive rights, the lower maternal and infant mortality will be,” said Polly Truscott.
In a positive development, the Act makes it illegal for reproductive healthcare providers to withhold
reasonable treatment or information from any adult based on the lack of third-party consent, such as
permission from a husband. It further seeks to address conscientious objection by healthcare providers by
requiring them to refer patients immediately to another provider.
Amnesty International is urging the Philippines to go further in promoting and protecting the
internationally recognised human rights of women and girls to reproductive health by providing
appropriate reproductive health information and services to all women and girls, including adolescents,
without preconditions. Further, Amnesty International recommends that the Philippine Congress urgently
review and revise provisions on abortion in the Revised Penal Code to bring them in line with
international human rights law.
“The Philippines still have a long way to fully respect, protect and fulfil women’s right to reproductive
health. Today the country has at taken a significant leap forward, but the real test will be to how
effectively this law is implemented,” said Truscott.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/insights/08/16/10/reasons-why-we-need-rh-law