CEDAW/C/PHI/4 English Page 57 Policy/institutional developments 231. Anchored on the current Medium-term Philippine Development Plan, 1993-1998, the Department of Health articulates its new vision for the Philippines as follows: (1) Health as a national movement (2) Health as an investment (3) Health as a development and rallying point of all participating agencies 232. The Plan recognizes the role of women in development such that major programmes will be reviewed and redesigned to respond better to women's total health needs and not only to their maternal and reproductive health. 233. A 10-year investment plan (1995-2005) was likewise orchestrated, which aims to assure sustainability of national health programmes, support the process of devolution, rationalize sector spending and enhance institutional capabilities in management and planning. 234. The Department recognizes the role of non-governmental organizations as partners in development and thus networking with them is being enhanced. The following is a list of the organizations actively involved in health programmes: (a) Womanhealth, a network of individuals, institutions and organizations that supports women's health and reproductive freedom; (b) Pro-Life Philippines, which proposes natural family planning methods; (c) Women's Health Care Foundation (WHCF), which helps upgrade and improve the quality of health care given to women; (d) Institute for Social Studies and Action (ISSA), which carries out research, education and advocacy to promote health for all, especially women, youth and children; (e) Health Action Information Network (HAIN), which works with communities and advocacy groups on diverse health-related issues, blending formal academic research methods with community-based perspectives. 235. The chapter on health in the Philippine Plan for Gender-responsive Development, 1995-2025, translates the Medium-term Plan vision into more operational policies and strategies. It seeks to empower women to control their fertility and sexuality with informed choice and minimum health problems and specifies that fertility limitation should not merely be seen as a means to achieve societal objectives. Moreover, it affirms that reproductive rights constitute part of human rights, as do safe motherhood and access to health services. /...