or organization be women, that the final five representatives of each party must be composed of at least two (2) women, and allotting 1/3 of the appointive positions in government to qualified women, among others.39 33. However, the Commission must point out that the MCW already mandates the undertaking of temporary special measures, specifically, “[w]ithin the next five (5) years, the number of women in third (3rd) level positions in government shall be incrementally increased to achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance”40 ; and women composing “at least forty percent (40%) of membership of all development councils from the regional, provinc ia l, city, municipal, and barangay levels shall be composed of women”41 , among others. 34. The Committee may wish to urge the State Party to strictly implement the provisions of the Magna Carta of Women on temporary special measures, particularly since these provisions do not require implementing legislation. On enhancing women’s access to health care, in particular to sexual and reproductive health services (para. 28) 35. The Commission notes the assertion of the State Party that all local issuances that contravene the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 42 (“RPRH Law”) have been “effectively revoked”.43 However, the findings of the CHRP’s inquiry on RH show that the RPRH Law is not being implemented uniformly, and that there are policies and practices that negatively impact women, especially the most marginalized. 36. Moreover, in the City of Manila, while EO 003 has been superseded by EO 030, the latter order continues to bar local funding for artificial contraceptives. 37. The CHRP is alarmed that the City of Sorsogon proclaimed itself to be “pro-life” last 2 February 2015, which resulted in the withdrawal of all artificial contraceptives in city and community health facilities. While the Department of Health supplements the absence of supply through the deployment of National Government nurses to the City of Sorsogon, these nurses are: a) prohibited from dispensing commodities in city and community health facilities; b) required to attend up to five communities; and c) unable to reach certain communities within the city. Since the “pro-life” declaration, the CHRP has documented reports of denial of family planning commodities (resulting in added financial burden on women who have to purchase contraceptives) and an increase in unwanted pregnancies, with the Mayor 39 40 41 42 43 See CEDAW/C/PHL/Q/7-8/Add.1, paras. 5.1-5.3. MCW, Republic Act. No. 9710 (August 14, 2009), sec. 11, second paragraph, subparagraph (a). Emphasis supplied. Id., subparagraph (b). Republic Act No. 10354 (December 21, 2012). CEDAW/C/PHL/Q/7-8/Add.1, para. 16.1 Page 8 of 11