Passage of ‘Women’s Act’ pressed

MANILA, Philippines – Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco pushed yesterday for the immediate passage of the “Women’s Right to Know Act” which seeks massive public campaign to educate the Filipino women on the importance of reproductive health care.

Syjuco lamented that majority of the Filipino women are not well-informed of their rights as provided for by the Constitution, including that of reproductive health care services.

“There is a deficiency in the dissemination of information regarding reproductive health care information to women,” he said in filing House Bill 1520.

HB 1520 provides that no government authority shall limit the right of any person to provide or receive, non-fraudulent information about the availability of reproductive health care service, including family planning, prenatal care and adoption services.

Syjuco expressed optimism that his measure “could eradicate whatever barriers may exist that hamper access of the people to relevant and reliable reproductive health care information, including those pertaining to family planning and adoption services.” (Charissa Luci)