After years of debate in congress and senate that even lead to some controversies and heated arguments between the supporters and opposing group of the famous Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill), Malacanang officially announces that it was already signed by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and it is now known to be as the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354) or simply RH Law. It was signed last December 21 by the president and made to public early in the morning of Dec. 29 through the Official Gazette (www.gov.ph) handles by the Communications Department of Malacanang.
In the Declaration Policy (Sec 2) of the RH Law it state:
“The State recognizes and guarantees the human rights of all persons including their right to equality and nondiscrimination of these rights, the right to sustainable human development, the right to health which includes reproductive health, the right to education and information, and the right to choose and make decisions for themselves in accordance with their religious convictions, ethics, cultural beliefs, and the demands of responsible parenthood.”
Instead on just focusing on the contraceptives which became the main reason of the debate and ideas of others about the RH Bill, the act tackles on the reproductive health and rights of everyone and at the same time giving them right information on family planning, awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and treatment on breast and reproductive tract cancers which also concerns to men, proper training for skilled health professionals that specializes on maternal, infant and child health care and nutrition especially in the baranggays, rural and hard to reach areas and providing them the access to healthcare facilities mobile health care services.
It also includes education and counseling on sexuality and reproductive health, reproductive health education on adolescence and elimination of violence against women and children and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence
The Department of Health will be taking the lead on the proper implementation and distribution of funds allocated on various projects related to RH Law together with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) who are aware of the current situation in their respective areas. The RH Law will be implemented in first week of January 2013 together with another controversial law which is the Sin Tax Reform of 2012 that was signed this December.
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Editor’s Note: With the passing of the controversial RH Law that was strongly opposed by the Catholic Church together with Senator Tito Sotto, Congressman Manny Pacquaio and other colleagues in both congress and senate it will be a sure heated argument that will end 2012 or should I say in the opening of 2013 which it is a must see in all media platforms especially the internet.
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