Birth control policy independent of Millennium compact grant

Critics should not link the stand of President Benigno Aquino 3rd favoring government promotion of contraceptives to a $434-million grant from the US Millennium Challenge Corp., a senator said on Tuesday. “It would be unfair to link [President Aquino’s] stand to the Millennium Challenge grant because with or without it, family planning is an issue that is long overdue, and should be discussed in the open,” according to Pia Cayetano.

Cayetano, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, urged various sectors to keep an open mind on the President’s support for contraceptives.

“It is high time that the Department of Health pursue a policy that will allow all families, especially poor couples, to be educated about and have access to the family-planning methods most appropriate to them,” she said.

Cayetano expressed support for the Aquino administration’s pledge to fulfill the country’s targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

She noted that the Philippines has been lagging behind in many crucial targets of the MDGs.

Cayetano said that Mr. Aquino should back up his pledge to achieve the MDGs by providing sufficient funding for programs meant to achieve them.

“The President’s commitment must be reflected in the national budget. There should be sufficient funding for programs geared toward achieving the MDGs,” she added.

The senator noted that in the proposed 2011 budget, the National Expanded Program on Immunization of the Department of Health will get only P960 million even if it needs P1.2 billion.

“Supporting the national immunization program is a crucial step toward reducing child mortality under MDG 4, “ she said.

Cayetano proposed that the government tap part of the $112-million “anti-poverty component” of the $434-million grant from the US Millennium Challenge Corp. to support the MDG programs. –EFREN L. DANAO sENIOR REPORTER, Manila Times