User:Msabueg/Abortion in the Philippines

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012
The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 RH bill signed into law on December 18, 2012 serves to ensure Filipino people have the access to all services regarding reproductive health to preserve the right to health. The bill ensures accessibility to information about contraception and prevention from sexual abuse and violence. More specifically, the bill allows for services that will not negatively affect pregnancy in order to preserve the family. In other words, abortions and procedures related to as such is not protected under the bill, though post care for people who underwent abortion is protected in this bill.

Public Views on Abortion and The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012
The act was already in debate for decades as oppositional parties mostly related to religious groups like the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines have been very negatively vocal to the enactment of the bill. Due to many arguments and disagreements on both sides, a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court was put onto the bill to halt distribution and production of certain contraceptives. The Food and Drug Administration found the banned contraceptives to be ‘non-abortifacient’ which was the main argument that the Supreme Court used to impose the temporary restraining order. The debates about the bill continues today and still there is no mention on the access to safe abortion.