New family planning program is optional

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

The Department of Health (DOH) program dubbed “ Ligtas Buntis ” does not impose to couples the use of contraceptives.

Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Urminico M. Baronda , Jr. stressed the program “provides adequate factual information on fertility and various medically safe and legally accepted family planning services to enable men, women and couples to have responsible decision based on informed choices”.

Reportedly, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in a statement Tuesday assailed the said government's program as it “violates and mocks the privacy and autonomy of couples and families”.  

The bishops' stand is that the only birth control measures approved by the church are the so-called “natural family planning”. The country's population is predominantly Roman Catholics.

However, Baronda pointed out the DOH in this door-to-door campaign merely identifies if contraceptive is needed . He added this will be the basis of the health department to supply birth control medicines if there is a demand.

Baronda said the City Population Office personnel are just doing the counseling. According to him, the program even requires that the “protection of individual privacy and confidentiality of information should be observed”.

Likewise, Baronda added that the health workers are conducting a “total education” on the couples' “unmet needs” such as responsible parenthood, birth spacing and informed choice. Some 190 Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPO) are implementing the program, he said.

“ Ligtas Buntis is focused on health intervention, prevention of high-risk pregnancies, reduction of maternal deaths, prevention of abortion and responding to the unmet needs ad demands of women or reproductive age,” Baronda explained.