MALACANANG defended Saturday the newly signed executive order (EO) of President Rodrigo Duterte mandating the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law.
"Our appeal is for them to have a broader and a more open mind," said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, referring to pro-life groups who criticize the President's order.
"Now, we have to appreciate that the President is pushing for reproductive health [measure], even though it's not popular with certain sectors, because his target is not just to serve the interest of a small group but to serve the interest of the whole nation," Abella said.
Executive Order 12 mandates the Department of Budget and Management to "realign and augment" appropriations to support the strict implementation of the RPRH law this year, with the funding requirements in subsequent two years to be included in the annual budget law.
Duterte's EO earned opposition from the church and several lawmakers, including Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villages said the church stand remained unchanged and that corruption "corrupts the soul."
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said the Catholic Church is against any law that promotes "both natural and artificial family planning methods."
"The church must continue to uphold the sacredness of human life, to teach always the dignity of the human person and to safeguard the life of every human person from conception to natural death," Tagle said.
Abella said the EO was one way of attaining Duterte’s goal to reduce poverty rate in the country.
“First and foremost, the president is fighting against poverty. Not only anti-poverty but he also wants to have inclusive prosperity,” Abella said.
“Our appeal is for them (critics) to have a broader and a more open mind, not just pure ideology. Perhaps, certain sectors in society should evolve on the way they think. They should be more open-minded and understand the people’s situation more,” he added.
National Economic and Development Authority director general Ernesto Pernia earlier said the administration is aiming to cut down in 2022 the poverty rate to 14 percent from 21.6 percent posted in 2015.
The EO targets to help couples and individuals meet “zero unmet need for modern family planning” by providing free contraceptives and reproductive health education. (VoxPop Philippines)
