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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Withholding access to contraceptives is a violation of the reproductive health (RH) law, Sen. Risa Hontiveros reminded local government units.
“The government must provide free access to family planning commodities to poor women nationwide to help address the country’s high maternal mortality rate,” Hontiveros said.
She made the statement following a report by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that the local government of Sorsogon City withheld artificial contraceptives from its women residents for years.
Citing the CHR report, she said women in far-flung barangays in Sorsogon City were denied RH products and services, and this resulted in unwanted pregnancies and placing of babies for adoption.
Mayor Sally Lee should respond to the allegations in the CHR report, Hontiveros stressed.
“It is our moral and civil obligation to ensure that we continue to respect, protect and uphold women’s rights,” the chairwoman of the Senate committee on health and demography.
Such report, if true, was an “insult” and “disrespect” to the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, which took 13 long years to get passed, she said.
“Kailangan may sumagot at may managot sa mga paglabag na ito,” said Hontiveros. “Our women should be given the widest array of options on how to plan and manage their families.”/PN
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