CEDAW/C/PHI/Q/6/Add.1 Information About Reproductive Health Care Services), SBN 1816 (Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy, HIV Rate, and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases), SBN 1280 (Reproductive Health Care Structures), SBN 1546 (Creating a Reproductive Health and Population Management Council) and SBN 62 (Establishment of a National Family Welfare Program and Creation of the National Family Welfare Commission). However, none of these bills have gone beyond the First Reading and no hearing has yet been set. Pending the passage of any of these RH bills, there still remains no national legislation on reproductive health. Thus, the provision of RH programs and services remain at the discretion of the heads of local governments. 22. According to the report, the Health Department’s reproductive health program offers a range of contraceptive methods (modern methods of natural family planning, pills, condom use, injections and sterilization) using a reproductive health care approach (para. 455(b)). The report also notes, however, that the Health Department has adopted the anti-artificial contraception position of the current Administration, and states that some local governments are already banning the dissemination of information about and sale of emergency contraception as well as artificial contraception (para. 481). Please explain and describe any measures taken to ensure availability of, information about and easy access to contraceptives in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies in accordance with the Committee’s recommendations in its previous concluding comments and general recommendation 24 on article 12. On January 2005, the Arroyo administration, outlined its 6-point policy on reproductive health (RH) to include the following: (1) Reduce the population growth rate to 1.9% by 2010; (2) Promote Responsible Parenthood, which is the will and ability to respond to the needs and aspirations of the family, and promote the freedom of responsible parents to decide on the timing and size of their families in pursuit of a better life; (3) Promote ‘Respect for Life’ in accordance with the 1987 Constitution which protects the life of the unborn from the moment of conception; abortion is unacceptable as a method of family planning, such that the term Reproductive Health or Reproductive Health Services is endorsed only on the condition that it explicitly excludes abortion; (4) Promote birth spacing of 3 to 5 years from recent pregnancy to enable women to recover and improve their well being as well as the health of the child and the relationship between husband and wife and between parents and children; (5) Respect ‘Informed Choice’ whereby couples and individuals may choose the methods that they will use to exercise Responsible Parenthood in accordance with their religious and ethical values and cultural background, subject to conformity with universally recognized international human rights; and (6) Health services, including Reproductive Health Services, are devolved by the Local Government Code to the local government units which have the responsibility of providing couples and individuals with information and services to enable them to exercise Responsible Parenthood. Consistent with the principles of informed choice, the Health Department supports both the modern natural and artificial family planning methods. Among the nationwide measures that DOH has taken to ensure that FP services reach the targeted clientele, especially women, include the following: 21