COTABATO CITY — In line with the National Womenโs Month celebration, the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) through Gender and Development (GAD) conducted on Wednesday, March 30 an orientation on Republic Act No. 10354, commonly known as โThe Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.
โThis activity aims to orient both female and male employees of the BPDA to become aware on responsible parenthood and reproductive health.
Accordingly, the said law mandates the government to promote, without biases, all effective natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically safe and legal.
Dr. Sweet Almira A. Amil, resource person and visiting consultant of the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, said that the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 is a ground breaking law that guarantees universal and free access to nearly modern contraceptives, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care in the Philippines.
โThis is for all citizens including impoverished communities at government health centers,โ she stressed.
In terms of maternal death, Amil emphasized that the BARMM is one of the regions in the country having the highest maternal mortality rate.
Other topics discussed were pre-conceptional and postnatal care for women, different methods on breast feeding, family planning methods, and domestic violence.
Following the orientation on RH Law, the participants joined the Inter-Division Quiz Bee Competition facilitated by the GAD focal persons of this office.
Meanwhile, Naimah T. Amer of Official Development Assistance (ODA), Mary Lovella Lao-Lastimosa of Information and Knowledge Management Division (IKMD), and Khairon A. Sura of Social Planning Division (SPD) won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. (BPDA-BARMM)