Manila: Difference between revisions

Contraception (or "birth control") can be purchased in the Philippines without a prescription. While you technically do need a prescription, this does not seem to be widely enforced. However, there have been many challenges to birth control access, especially from the powerful Filipino Catholic Church. For many years, birth control pills were not legal at all, and they were treated like illegal contraband, exchanged between women. When they finally were legalized, the Catholic Church strongly campaigned against their access. It is estimated that over 80% of the Filipino population is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is opposed to birth control. Today, 37% of married women in the Philippines use modern contraception and 12% use traditional family planning methods (like withdrawal, the rhythm method and periodic abstinence).<ref>[https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/why-filipinas-cant-get-birth-controleven-though-its-now-free-by-law Why Filipinas Can't Get Birth Control—Even Though It's Now Free By Law]</ref>

In 2012, the Filipino government signed the Reproductive Health Law, under President Benigno Aquino III. This law required that schools provide sex education, and that health centers provide free condoms and birth control. This law was heavily challenged by the Church and religious organizations, such as the Alliance for Family Foundation Philippines, resulting in a 2-year legal battle. In the end, the Filipino Supreme Court upheld the Reproductive Health Law in 2014. Nevertheless, conservative forces managed to cut the government's budget for contraceptives, thereby making contraceptives more difficult for poor Filipino families to afford, soon afterward.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/06/philippines-axes-contraceptive-budget-birth-control Philippines axes contraceptive budget]</ref> Most recently, President Duterte has vowed to bring back family planning programs to the Philippines, insisting that Filipino families are too large and that the Catholic Church has kept the populace "in total ignorance" about birth control.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/27/philippines-tough-guy-leader-defies-catholic-church-on-birth-control/ Philippines tough-guy leader defies Catholic Church on birth control]</ref>

The Philippines has one of the highest birth rates and maternal mortality rates in Asia. Teenage pregnancy has doubled in the past decade, and 10% of Filipina teenagers are wives or mothers.<ref>[https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/why-filipinas-cant-get-birth-controleven-though-its-now-free-by-law