SC to DOH: Stop Contraceptives Distribution

Image courtesy of Rappler

It was a day of Hallelujah for Pro-life advocates last June 17, 2015!

The 2nd Division of the Supreme Court (SC) has issued a temporary restraining order against the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from: (1) granting any and all pending applications for registration and/or recertification for reproductive products and supplies including contraceptive drug and devices; and (2) procuring, selling, distributing, dispensing or administering, advertising and promoting the hormonal contraceptive Implanon and Implanon NXT.

Because of continued vigilance, the petitioners, Alliance of the Family Foundation Philippines Inc. (ALFI) and its president Atty. Maria Concepcion S. Noche, have won new development in the fight for life of the helpless unborn. They brought to the attention of the Supreme Court the manner of implementation of RA 10354 (RH Law) by the responsible officers of the DOH and FDA and all persons acting for and on their behalf.

The organization held as contrary to the RH Law and the Judgment of the Supreme Court DOH carrying out without observance of due process the approval of contraceptives without the necessary public hearing or consultation. They alleged that the contraceptives being distributed and sold did not pass FDA scrutiny. The FDA accordingly had already certified that Implanon and Implanon NXT appears to have abortifacient character. As such, grave abuse of discretion was committed by the DOH when it allowed the sale and distribution of the said drug.

This recent development has again brought to the fore the thoughts of varied stakeholders. Zoe Vidal of Choice for Life, laments that though the TRO was issued on June 17 “there seems a news blackout – except for two media entities.” She also took note of the warning of Atty. Noche that we must remain vigilant noting the word “temporary.”

A national paper on its July 9 editorial assails the Catholic group’s action as a delaying tactic. It accuses that “they judged based mainly on religious doctrine than on medical science.” It reminded Church-affiliated groups that even Pope Francis advises the faithful not to sacrifice mercy and compassion to an obsession with doctrine. It has also rattled on the same arguments and the same defense although the petitioners are questioning only the previously FDA certified abortifacient character of the drug Implanon and Implanon NXT.

Likhaan director and co-founder Dr. Junice Melgar in another interview also complained that the petitioners just want to stop everything and go back. They’re questioning the law again – there’s no sense…”

Atty. Noche in a DCHerald interview sees it as a happy respite even when it’s only temporary. She is hopeful that the unborn will have its chance to be heard. “By issuing the TRO, nakita na may point,” she says.

The implementation of the RH Law is on temporary restraining order. What about taking a new look at it? Many things have already been said about the RH Law. Both from the pros and cons: even from among the members of the Catholic Church. But what is really the main issue here?

We have a problem with population. But it is not statistic. That myth has long been debunked. It is not economics either. That is just greed postulating.

Look beyond the urban centers. The world out there is bigger. It can contain more than we can imagine. Find creative ways to solve situations rather than take the shortest (within 6 years), or fastest or most convenient routes. Plant trees. Grow food. Take care of our environment. Share resources. Educate people rather than patronize them for one’s own end. Do not waste. Give.

Why cry that we are over-populated? We know better than that. Why blame getting pregnant as the cause of poor mothers’ health and death? That is a lame excuse for not doing what we are called to do. Teach. Provide. And above all serve and serve with love.

If one subscribes to the RH Law, serve with truth and love. Endangering the life of the helpless unborn or make the womb sterile for a while until “I want to”, is not truth. It is not love either.

As Davao-based Natural Family Planning (NFP) advocate and OB-gynecologist comments: “All contraceptives have failures, the only difference in NFP is that there is an effort from both parties and not just from the woman…If God is there in married life, He makes all things good to couples who are open to life, if he is not there (in the family), who else is there?”

Life is always a blessing. For it is only God who can give life. Let life prevail. Let the restraining order be permanent then. (@dcherald)