The Department of Health (DOH) urged lawmakers on Tuesday to pass the reproductive health (RH) and “sin tax” bills because it would mean more funds for health services for Filipinos.
In a statement, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said these bills were expected to result in savings for the government by lowering the number of unwanted pregnancies and premature deaths.
Ona said maternal deaths in the Philippines were rising.
According to the DOH, the mortality rate for Filipino mothers had increased to 221 per 100,000 live births in 2011 from 162 per 100,000 live births in 2009.
Among the country’s UN Millennium Development Goals is the reduction of the maternal mortality rate to 52 (per 100,000 live births).
The RH bill, when enacted, will contribute to improving maternal and child health,” Ona said.
On the other hand, the sin tax measure will hopefully discourage the consumption of tobacco and alcohol products, especially among the young and the poor. The DOH estimated that a 10-percent increase in tobacco taxes would reduce by two million the number of smokers by 2016.
Aside from these measures, the DOH also justified its proposed P54.6 billion budget for 2013.
According to Ona, 69 percent of the budget will go to priority programs such as PhilHealth subsidies, health infrastructure, family planning, tuberculosis control, immunization activities, control of emerging diseases, and the Doctor to the Barrios program.
“The proposed 2013 budget will bring us closer to achieving our Millennium Development Goals and strengthen the Aquino administration’s promise of universal health care for all Filipinos,” Ona said in a statement.
The proposed budget will earmark P13.5 billion for the improvement of health facilities nationwide, he added.
About P304.5 million will go to the Commission on Population, while P327 million will go to the National Nutrition Council. –Kristine L. Alave, Philippine Daily Inquirer
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
