DOH starts public consultations for RH law's IRR

The Department of Health expects to start promulgating by March 18 the newly signed Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, as it started public consultations on the law's implementing rules and regulations (IRRs). DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said he expects the new law to "empower" families to plan the number of children and ensure the health of mothers and infants. “By March 18, we will promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the RP-RH law of 2012, empowering families to decide the number and spacing of their children and ensuring that the promise of saving the lives of our mothers and infants is realized,” Ona said on the DOH's Facebook account Tuesday. While the new law went into effect Jan. 17, the IRRs still have to be ironed out. The DOH said the draft IRR is tentatively scheduled for signing on March 15. The DOH said public consultations on the draft IRRs of the RP-RH law – Republic Act 10354 – were to start Tuesday at the Ritz Hotel, Garden Oases in Davao City. Consultations were also scheduled March 6 at the Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu City and March 8 at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.   Ona reiterated the law's goal is to save mothers’ lives, and not to control population. President Benigno Aquino III signed the measure into law last December 21, amid opposition from the Catholic Church and its allies who are against the measure's provisions allowing artificial contraception. The Catholic Church favors natural family planning. Ona said it is urgent that the new law be implemented soonest, "to reduce the country’s high maternal mortality rate by using a mix of reproductive health care services like modern family planning methods, safe deliveries, adequate blood supply, and quality care at health facilities." He added the provision of service delivery and financing has to start with helping the poorest of the poor. Citing figures from the Social Welfare Department's National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, Ona said the poorest 5.2 million families are now enrolled with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). The DOH said the draft IRR was prepared by a committee chaired by Ona and composed of representatives of the Departments of Education, Social Welfare and Development and Interior and Local Government; Philippine Commission on Women, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, National Economic and Development Authority, Leagues of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities of the Philippines and at least four non-government organizations. NGOs invited to the committee included: