Popcom pushes family planning

The Commission on Population (PopCom) pushed yesterday for the strengthening of population management programs since less than half of Filipino couples plan the size of their families.

Citing the 2004 Family Planning Survey, PopCom executive director Tomas Osias said only 49.3 percent of couples use any method of birth control.

"One way to encourage those who are not into family planning is to present them with methods available and allow them to choose that which they think suits them," he said.

Based on the survey, pills continue to be the most popular method, chosen by 15.6 percent of couples. This is followed by tubal ligation, chosen by 9.4 percent of couples; intra-uterine devices, 3.9 percent; injectable spermicides, 3.6 percent; condoms, 2.1 percent; and vasectomy, 0.1 percent.

Osias said the low subscription to natural family planning methods poses a challenge for the government to intensify its campaign on "informed choice."

"This is the goal of informed choice. We increase awareness, then couples choose which methods to use. There is no coercion that should take place," he said.

Osias also said many Filipinos do not plan on the size of their family for fear of side effects, low awareness of its benefits, and how to go about it.

"We expect to increase the practice of family planning as all stakeholders do their part to intensify awareness of all types of methods," he said.

Earlier this year, then incoming Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III said he is against artificial contraception but promised to keep an open mind.

"The issue of family planning is dividing our people. I will talk to the groups, listen to what they have to say... Not everybody is Catholic in this country," Duque said.

The Roman Catholic Church is vehemently against artificial contraception and maintains that it is a sin to use such methods.

Duque said the challenge in dealing with population management is looking for a common ground that will be acceptable to all parties concerned.

"We should also be sensitive to those who are not (Catholic). There are social, cultural and religious parameters that we have to use," he said.

Despite his personal stand, Duque said it is important to make reproductive health information and services available so couples could make an informed choice.

The country’s population hit 84.2 million last year. With an annual population growth of 2.36 percent — representing 1.7 million babies born in the Philippines each year — Filipinos may number 100 million by 2010 and this figure may double within 30 years.

Various organizations have been pushing the Arroyo administration to take an aggressive stand on family planning.

But President Arroyo, a devout Catholic, maintains a policy that the national government will not pay for contraceptives. She leaves it to the local government units to buy and distribute their own supply.