EFFECTIVENESS AND LEVELS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF RH SERVICES AND INFORMATION 1. IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY CONTRADICTORY TO RH LAW The implementation of EO 3 in Sorsogon City renders RH goods and services lacking and/or insufficient. Cases include women from all five barangays prior to the issuance of EO 3 were able to access various RH goods and services which include information and counseling services. In response, women were forced to allocate their money for the purchase of contraceptives, with pills ranging from P39 to P50 per cycle and injectibles that reach P170. This meant they had less money for other needs such as food. Those who could not afford contraceptives entailed higher risk of unwanted pregnancy. One mother in Bibincahan who had seasonal income narrated that it is very difficult for her to buy an injectable because the price is about P103.00 pesos in the local or commercial drugstore. Pills are cheaper at P38.00 pesos, but she feels they is not suitable for her body. Inability to access contraceptives result to women with unwanted pregnancies resorting to unsanctioned and potentially harmful methods of abortion. For example, a mother testified that her neighbour told her about drinking an abortive herbal concoction or pampalaglag. The child was not aborted, but the woman was terrified of her body’s experience in drinking the concoction. The respondent added that there were other stories circulating of women resorting to abortion to prevent having too many children whom they could not afford to care for. The fact finding results show that there is implied and partial contraception ban because of the EO issued by the Mayor. The EO resulted in the withdrawal of FP commodities in City health facilities and there is preference for natural methods and active discouragement on the use of modern contraceptives. As a result of the EO, contraceptives (pills, cycle beads for standard days method) were pulled out from CHO and returned to the Provincial Health Office in Sorsogon. To supplement the lack, the DOH deployed the nurses to dispense FPs in the affected areas in Sorsogon City. 2. PRESENCE OF SUPPORT FROM ALTERNATIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS In light of EO 3, the Nurse Deployment Project (NDP) of the DOH and the FPOP serves as alternative sources for RH goods and services which residents of Sorsogon may access. This was affirmed during the public hearing, where members of the NDP shared that they would distribute RH goods in safe venues. This however, remains a temporary alternative that cannot substitute main state health providers. 3. INACCESSIBLE RH GOODS AND SERVICES Ms. Irene Derilo, a health worker from Brgy. San Lorenzo-Bibincahan observe that women who live farther from the health center have less chances of availing limited RH goods. Five rural-agricultural workers she is in charge of have to use branded pills because of the 32