practices which affect accessibility and availability of Reproductive Health services and
information. In so doing, the Philippines falls short in its obligations under CEDAW,
specifically its obligation to “ensure women’s access to services in the areas of family
planning, pregnancy, confinement and post-natal period and to sexual and reproductive
health services. 10”
On the basis of the objectives of the National Inquiry, the following are the
Commission’s Findings:
1. UNEVEN IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT OF RPRH BY LOCAL GOVERNMETN UNITS
AND EXISTENCE OF DISCRIMINATORY AND LEGAL BARRRIERS
Uneven implementation of RPRH by Local Government Units
The results of the National Inquiry reveal that local government units show varying
degrees of support for the implementation of the law from full support and political will
to outright refusal to implement provisions of the RH law.
In Quezon City and the City of Marikina, the LGUs have shown full support to the
RPRH Law. In Quezon City, the Gender and Development Ordinance reiterated the
provisions of the RPRH law, while in Marikina, they have enacted a Contraceptive
Self Reliance Ordinance which accords One Million pesos (PhP1,000,000) annually
for contraceptives. This is in addition to that provided by the DOH.
In the City of Manila, while Executive Order 003 has been superseded by EO 030,
the latter order continues to bar local funding for artificial contraceptives. Mayor
Atienza’s EO declaring Manila City a “Pro-Life City” has been superseded by a
subsequent EO by Mayor Lim. The said EO, while not prohibiting the distribution
of artificial contraceptives, explicitly stated that the City of Manila will not provide
local funding for artificial contraceptives.
10
In Sorsogon City, Mayor Sally Lee issued EO 03 which declared the City a “pro-Life
City” last 2 February 2015. The National Inquiry established that the issuance of
GR Par. 2
16