The City Implementation Team (CIT) of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 met on Monday, January 27, at the SP Session Hall in the City of Mati.
No less than Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat presided over the CIT meeting attended by other members like City Health Officer Ben Hur Catbagan, City Local Government Operations Officer Joseph Pogatorio, the Philippine National Police, the City Social Welfare and Development Office and all other local government office heads.
In the said meeting, Catbagan updated the team of their accomplishments in the City Health Office with regards to the RPRH.
Porgatorio meanwhile suggested for the City of Mati LGU to come up with a 3-year implementation plan for the said law.
Philippine National Police representative also updated the CIT saying that most of the complaints filed before their women’s desk were rape and violence against women and children.
Mayor Michelle meanwhile directed all agencies concerned to create a program that would empower abused women for them to become more independent from their husbands or partners.
“Let us create a program for women who experienced violence, create opportunities for them to be independent from their partners,” Mayor Michelle said.
Dr. Catbagan also pointed out the need to conduct barangay mapping of couples and of women about to give birth. This way, the City Health could readily address the need of pregnant women in the city especially the young ones.
It was learned that teenage pregnancy cases in many barangays have increased.
“Let’s implement age-appropriate sex education in the school to lessen the childhood pregnancy,” said Dr. Catbagan.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 12 dated January 2017 directed various government agencies including LGUs to intensify and accelerate the implementation of critical actions necessary to attain and sustain “zero unmet need for modern family planning” for all poor households.
Those with unmet need for modern family planning are those who are fecund and sexually active and want to limit or space their children but are not using any modern method of contraception. (CIO MATI)