My husband and I are both college graduates now working in the private sector. We earn enough to support two growing children. The age difference between them is five years. We decided to stop at two since we believe this would allow us to properly manage our careers and at the same time give us enough time to look after their wellbeing and education.
We consider ourselves fortunate because we know how to balance work and family life. But we can’t help but be saddened by the sight of children from poor families living in squalid surroundings in the city. More often than not, informal settlers in Metro Manila have big families simply because they lack access to family planning methods.
I have been following news reports about the efforts of the Department of Health and some NGOs to promote planned parenthood. I agree 100 percent with them that the Supreme Court is wrong in issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the sale of contraceptive drugs and devices. This TRO effectively blocks the implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law and, I’m afraid, will only lead to more women from poor and low-income sectors having too many children whose basic needs will not be met on a daily basis.
I fully support the joint efforts of government and civil society groups to promote responsible parenthood. Sadly, the Supreme Court doesn’t seem to be on the same page as the DOH, NGOs and President Duterte who recently signed an executive order directing government departments and LGUs to implement the RH Law.
Why?
MARY ANN DATOY, Parañaque City