Another gender issue prevalent in displaced communities is their increased vulnerability to
trafficking.
To some extent, the people interviewed for the CHR National Inquiry on RH attributed the uneven
implementation of the RH Law to the government decentralization wherein a large part of health
services is now managed by the LGUs. This made health service more politicized in that it has
become more vulnerable to the interests of local politicians rather than grounded on national and
international human rights standards. The implementation of the RH Law in Sorsogon and Manila is
an example of this.
On the other hand, the relative autonomy of LGUs to craft its own policies have also benefitted the
RH advocacy as in the case of Marikina, Quezon City, Cebu and Davao City which have initiated
gender-specific programs and services even prior to the enactment of the RH Law, though their
Gender and Development Code or GAD Ordinance. After the enactment of the RH Law, the
LGUs of Marikina passed a “Contraceptive Self-Reliance” Ordinance, which provided for the
allotment of PhP 1,000,000 to purchase contraceptives and supplement the family planning supplies
from the national government.
Reproductive health also requires personnel who are trained not only on the technicalities of
(medical) service provision but also are gender and culturally sensitive and responsive. Having
gender sensitive and responsive RH personnel is a requirement of the law that aims is founded on
the State’s commitment to “the promotion of gender equality, gender equity, women empowerment
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and dignity as a health and human rights concern and as a social responsibility.” The State
principles on which the RH law is embedded further states, “The advancement and protection of
women’s human rights shall be central to the efforts of the State to address reproductive health
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care.” Cultural sensitivity is also critical component in health service delivery across
differently-situated and diverse groups in the country, particularly in reproductive health that
concerns attitudes, behaviors and practices that are intimate, private and even taboo in some
cultures, not just bodily functions. The Magna Carta of Women, for instance, is explicit in putting
this as a criteria when it stated, “ The State shall, at all times, provide for a comprehensive,
culture-sensitive, and gender-responsive health services and programs covering all stages of a
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woman’s life cycle….”
This issue intersects with the concern over the unethical practices of service providers as discussed
in the previous sections.
RH and Abortion
That the RH Law promotes abortion is an accusation that has been leveled off at the policy since it
was proposed in Congress; it remains to be one of the strongest reasons why some groups object to
implement its provisions related to modern contraception and non-traditional family planning
methods. In addition to moral and religious beliefs held by people opposed to abortion, abortion is
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Section 2, RA 10354.
Ibid.
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Section 17(a), RA 9710
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24
RH Situationer: Phlippines (November 2017)
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