How unfortunate that this is the ONE bill which would have been welcome ( if not by everyone ). It had been intended to fully take effect in law on Easter Sunday, March 31. Now the
Supreme Court of the Philippines has temporarily restrained its implementation for 120 days on a 10-5 vote, “ pending oral arguments “ to take place in June.



The Roman Catholic hierarchy vigorously opposed the bill, despite a majority of “ ordinary “ members of the Church supporting public access to reproductive health services including contraceptives, and sex education for youth. It was finally approved by Congress at the end of last year – after a decade of debates.



The new law – if finally implemented – would still criminalise abortion; allow schools to opt out of sex education on religious grounds ; and limit free access to contraception to those on a government database identified as “ poor “ ( possibly 5 million households ).



In the Philippines at least a third of births are “ unplanned “ ; teen pregnancy is far too common ; possibly half a million abortions are performed in “ back alley clinics “; an estimated 11 women die every day from preventable complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth ; the population growth rate is relatively high at 2% ; and the doctor-to-population ratio is worsening – a social disaster.



The topic has been well covered in several threads over the past year ( with links to articles ).



Perhaps the lack of response to this latest news – so far – reflects resignation and disbelief, that once again the law has been delayed. ONE maternal death is a tragedy - ELEVEN a day is a disaster, whatever the opponents to this law may say .