Provincial implementing team on RPRH Law formed

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) headed by Dr. Rosanna M. Buccahan on Monday conducted an orientation on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) at the Crown Royale Hotel in this component city.

The RPRH, commonly known as the controversial RH Law, and its IRR have been deemed effective with the lifting of the Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO) by the Supreme Court last April 8, 2014.

Dr. Buccahan said the Department of Health, as the lead implementing agency of this law and its IRR, is in need of a structure or provincial implementing team who will manage the implementation of the law.

“The PHO in its commitment to being a partner of the DOH-RO3 in coordination with the Population Commission shall create a Provincial Implementation Team (PIT) for the implementation of IRR of R.A. 10354 (Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Act if 2012),” she added.

The team is composed of representatives from various public and private sectors and shall be responsible for the information dissemination and implementation of the law in the all the 236 barangays or villages in the province. The municipal implementing teams will also be formed in 11 towns and 1 city which will guide its main implementers down to the barangay level.

Dr. Rosanna Buccahan will serve as the chairperson of the PIT, Dr. Danny Velasco as co-chairperson, Danny Perez of the Population Commission was assigned as the vice chairperson. Other agencies and sectors such as the DILG, DepEd, the Bataan mayors’ league, the civic society organizations (CSOs) are well represented in the team.

The Bataan Population Commission (PopCom) cited the importance of RPRH Act that includes the stability and sustainability of reproductive health programs, recognition on the importance of contributions of CSOs like Lions Club and Rotary International, basic sectors, the academe and the private sector.

It also guarantees the right to equality and non-discrimination right to sustainable human development, right to reproductive health, right to education and information and right to choose and make decisions for themselves while the salient features include universal access to affordable and quality RH care and services preferential to the poor.

Recently, the DOH has earmarked around P1.7 billion for the planned full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) law this year.

In a published interview, former health secretary Esperanza Cabral emphasized the budget is not solely for the procurement of contraceptives but for other aspects of the RPRH law as well. She said the initial phase of the campaign involves educating local government units on the provisions of the law and its implementing rules and regulations.