Manila lifts 9-year contraceptive ban

Manila held its first family planning fair Friday after Mayor Alfredo Lim lifted a nine-year ban on artificial family planning methods.

According to Beth Angsioco, secretary general of Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN), Lim has allowed the promotion of artificial methods in the city, virtually junking Executive Order 003 issued by his predecessor, Lito Atienza, in 1999.

“When he assumed office, Mayor Lim had declared his respect for the couple’s right to decide on the size of the family. So now, (we are) allowed to hold education campaign and provide services on artificial methods in Manila,” Angsioco said.

Under the order, Atienza had discouraged the use of contraceptives by his constituents, leading to a virtual ban. He noted that these methods are against the law and the pro-life principles of the Catholic Church.

“For nine years, Manila residents were deprived of information and services (contraceptives). They could not exercise their rights to informed choice,” Angsioco said.

She added that the virtual ban resulted in unplanned pregnancies, marital squabbling and neglected children.

A wish fulfilled

After waiting for almost a decade and seven children, Jose Pagunsan, a garbage dump worker, finally got his wish – a free vasectomy.

“I really wanted to do this a long time ago because my wife’s health has suffered due to multiple pregnancies and childbirths,” the 41-year-old scavenger said, adding that his wife is pregnant with their eighth child.

“I don’t know how and where to get this done. So when social workers went to our house offering to do it free, I immediately jumped on the chance. I’m doing this for free.”

Pagunsan was, however, among only a few who volunteered to get a vasectomy during the family planning fair.

Because of the nine-year ban, condoms and other contraceptives have been in short supply in Manila, unlike in many other developing nations where they are distributed free of charge.

The Philippine government has left family planning issues to be decided by local government units because it fears a national policy may antagonize the powerful Catholic Church.

Hundreds of women crowded a sports complex in Tondo, Manila as city health and social workers distributed contraceptives, condoms and reading materials on different family planning methods.

“Family planning is a right,” said Dr. Junice Melgar of RHAN. “We see this event as a concrete step in lifting the misery of poor women and their families in the city of Manila.”

RHAN is a coalition of 40 non-government organizations and civic group that seeks the passage of national legislation on reproductive health.

Angsioco said the fair was the “culminating event” of a weeklong celebration that officially opened with a dialogue between Manila city officials and RHAN advocates.

“RHAN will primarily intensify its information campaign because we have to deal first with a mindset that artificial methods are against the law (and morality). We have to rebuild their trust first,” she said.

The Church has frowned on the Philippine government’s promotion of artificial contraceptives to manage population growth.

The Philippines has one of the fastest rates of population growth in Southeast Asia at 2.04 percent annually, putting pressure on the country’s development.

The United Nations Population Fund says there is a serious need to promote family planning in the country. Program officer Marian Ciscar believes there is a need to increase informed choices given to the people.

“I think it has to do with the culture of Catholicism. But I myself come from a Catholic country, and I think we have to learn to separate family planning. It’s not a matter of faith. Family planning is a human right,” Ciscar said.