Family Planning in Asia and the Pacific - International Council on ...

First period: 1988-1991 Second period: 1992-2000Third period: 2001-2010The third period (2001-2010)was def<strong>in</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong> President's consistent support for<strong>the</strong> Catholic Church's doctr<strong>in</strong>e on contraception: <strong>the</strong>promotion of natural family plann<strong>in</strong>g (NFP) <strong>and</strong> lackof commitment to artificial contraception <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> RHagenda of Cairo. Witt<strong>in</strong>gly or unwitt<strong>in</strong>gly, <strong>the</strong> Presidentalso pushed local autonomy to an extraord<strong>in</strong>ary degree<strong>and</strong> weakened her own national Department of Healthby allow<strong>in</strong>g LGUs to ban artificial contraceptives <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>irjurisdiction, as was done <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> city of Manila.Table A below provides details to <strong>the</strong>se three periods, <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> succeed<strong>in</strong>g section lists important events <strong>in</strong> familyplann<strong>in</strong>g history.Important events <strong>in</strong> familyplann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Philipp<strong>in</strong>esEarly years <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong>family plann<strong>in</strong>g programme1957: Tariff <strong>and</strong> Customs Law prohibited <strong>the</strong> importationof anyth<strong>in</strong>g for “prevent<strong>in</strong>g human conception orproduc<strong>in</strong>g unlawful abortion”, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g pr<strong>in</strong>tedmatter giv<strong>in</strong>g direct or <strong>in</strong>direct <strong>in</strong>formation.1964: The University of <strong>the</strong> Philipp<strong>in</strong>es PopulationInstitute (UPPI) was established.1965: Revised Adm<strong>in</strong>istrative Code declared as “absolutelynon-mailable” anyth<strong>in</strong>g for “prevent<strong>in</strong>g conceptionor produc<strong>in</strong>g abortion, or for any <strong>in</strong>decent orimmoral use”, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g that gives direct or<strong>in</strong>direct <strong>in</strong>formation.1966: Republic Act (RA) 4729 restricted <strong>the</strong> dispensationor distribution of contraceptive drugs <strong>and</strong> devices tolicensed drug stores <strong>and</strong> pharmaceutical companies,even if done for free (e.g., as practised by non-profitorganizations).1967: President Ferd<strong>in</strong><strong>and</strong> Marcos <strong>and</strong> 17 o<strong>the</strong>r headsof state signed <strong>the</strong> United Nations Declaration onPopulation.1969: A policy study group on population was created(Commission on Population).1969: Catholic bishops released a pastoral letter on <strong>the</strong>encyclical Humanae Vitae <strong>and</strong> called on Filip<strong>in</strong>oCatholics <strong>and</strong> clergy to obey <strong>the</strong> Pope's decisionuphold<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ban on artificial birth control <strong>and</strong>sterilization. 141971: The Population Act (RA 6365) was passed,which created a family plann<strong>in</strong>g programme toreduce population growth rate for economic <strong>and</strong>development goals, <strong>and</strong> established <strong>the</strong> Commissionon Population (POPCOM) under <strong>the</strong> Office of<strong>the</strong> President. The POPCOM was tasked “to putup family plann<strong>in</strong>g cl<strong>in</strong>ics <strong>in</strong> cooperation” with <strong>the</strong>Department of Health (DOH).1972: Martial law was declared over <strong>the</strong> entire country.President Marcos gave himself executive, legislative<strong>and</strong> judicial powers.1972: President Marcos issued Presidential Decree(PD) 79 <strong>and</strong> revised <strong>the</strong> Population Act. UnderPD 79, POPCOM was given added authority to“employ physicians, nurses, midwives to provide,297