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
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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