LEGAZPI-SORSOGON Fact-finding in Legazpi-Sorsogon was conducted from April 12-13, 2016 in East District – Brgys. San Lorenzo, and Bibincahan; West District – Brgys. Macabog and Pangpang; Bacon District – Brgys. Poblacion, Burabod, and Caricaran; and in Brgy. Balogo within Sorsogon City. Interview was the core method employed in gathering information. The task is supplemented by ocular visits to Sorsogon Provincial Health Office, City Health Office in East District, and selected barangay health centers. House to house visits, pharmacy inquiry, and test buy of RH goods were also conducted. The Office of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines was also visited. Most significant about this area in relation to RH is its “Pro-Life” Ordinance. Executive Order No. 3 series of 2015, entitled “AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DECLARING SORSOGON CITY AS A PRO-LIFE CITY,” was issued by Hon. Mayor Sally A. Lee and took effect on February 2, 2015. EO 003 was sourced out from Sections 12 and 15 Article II and Section 3(2) Article XV of the Philippine Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710). This order neither elucidates what a “PRO-LIFE” city is nor provides particulars on how or why it should be called as such. From this EO 3, the proposal of Hon. City Councilor Emmanuel Diolata entitled, “An Ordinance Declaring Sorsogon City as a Pro-life City and Providing For its Guidelines and Policies” was developed. Although the proposed ordinance has not been approved to date, the effect of the EO was to prefer natural family planning method from the natural artificial and modern artificial methods putting in a dilemma the availability, accessibility, and comprehensibility of application of RA 10354. Women’s rights to RH were hampered when the DOH-LGU’s distribution program was interrupted. These are among the critical issues confronting the full implementation of RA 10354. Despite the call of the DOH V, DILG V, CHRV, and POPCOM V to look into the current situation and reexamine the actions in order to provide uninterruptedly full, comprehensive, and accessible RH goods and services among the women-clientele, the LGU’s disposition is unchanged. Just the same, the barriers remain in Sorsogon City, complemented by the invocation of Supreme Court’s ruling on the unconstitutionality of some provisions of RH Law and the TRO which is still in effect. The public hearing was conducted in April 14, 2016, in the nearby town of Daraga. A total of 40 participants were present, with representatives from the following GOs and NGOs: Department of Health, Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, Bicol University, MIDAS, Radio Siram, DZGB AM, Social Action Center-Legazpi, Diocese of Legazpi Commission on Family Life, Process. Representatives from LGUs and personnel from CHR-V were also in attendance. The fact-finding mission and public hearing followed the regional consultation conducted in March 30, 2016 in Legazpi City. 31

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