In line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to intensify access to modern family planning, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada led the city’s Family Month celebration, where the latest family planning method, Progestin Subdermal Implants, were given for free to qualified beneficiaries.
In his speech, Estrada appealed to his audience to do family planning to ensure a better future for their family.
“Pigilan ang panggigigil (Control your urges),” Estrada jestingly told the crowd at the Unibersidad de Manila.
While ensuring to continue doing his best for his constituents, the former president reminded parents to be responsible in having children.
“They would be in a pitiful situation if you cannot give them a good life,” noted Estrada, who is seeking his third and last term to continue his programs that would benefit Manilenos.
He stressed that “population has a great impact in our city, and one of my objectives is to give every family [in Manila] a good life by providing them free hospitalization, education, and job opportunities.”
“I want all our young people to have what they need to succeed in life,” said Estrada.
The importance of family planning must be tackled and addressed “with logic and reason, not hysteria,” added Estrada in the event organized through the Manila Family Planning Division composed of its chief Dr. Criselda Coroza, and her staff Sanford Araneta, Marivic Bagallon, Marianne Caliguia, Evelyn Cabundoc, and Sarah Demit Mendoza.
Estrada, Manila Health Department acting chief Dr. Benjamin Yson, and Coroza also gave plaques of appreciation to the Department of Health, PopCom, Mary Johnston Hospital, DKT Health Inc., Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, International Container Terminal Services Inc., Likhaan, United Nations Population Fund, Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood, AP Margin, and DILG-Napolcom to recognize their valuable help and contributions to Manila’s health programs.
Yson said it is good to plan the family, as he guaranteed the effectiveness and safety of using an implant, which underwent thorough study.
He said women of reproductive age are assured of not getting pregnant for three years, as compared to the use of injectables, which effectively last for only three months.
The use of an implant is very safe, although Yson said there are minimal side effects. He said the implant can be removed anytime if a woman decides to get pregnant again.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said PSI implants are an effective approach “to meeting the global needs for more beneficial and convenient manner of birth spacing” among women.
He clarified the misconception that it causes abortion among users through an issuance of the Food and Drug Administration Advisory No. 2017-302 (Results of the FDA’s Re-Evaluation of Contraceptive Products for Recertification) that declared PSI as among the contraceptive products that are non-abortifacient.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed last January Executive Order No. 12, to provide funds and support for modern family planning in a bid to make modern family planning available to the poor by 2018.
“This order aims to intensify and accelerate the implementation of critical actions necessary to attain and sustain ‘zero unmet need for modern family planning’ for all poor households by 2018,” read the EO.