European Legislators Reiterate Need To Focus On Reproductive Health For Philippine Development

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Parliamentarians from European Union member-countries are in the Philippines for a week-long study tour on reproductive health. And foremost in their agenda are meetings with Filipino decision-makers to discuss the reproductive health and development situation in the country and possible areas of cooperation.

The delegation consists of Hons. Anne Van Lancker (Member of the European Parliament from Belgium); Marija Pavilioniene (Member of the Lithuanian Parliament); Maria Ofélia Moleiro (Member of the Portuguese Parliament); Miguel Angel Martin Soledad (Member of the Spanish Parliament); Kari Kjonaas Kjos (Member of the Norwegian Parliament); and Gaye Erbatur (Member of the Turkish Parliament).

In their meetings with Philippine legislators, the Department of Health, members of civil society, religious groups, and urban poor communities, the European Parliamentarians reiterated the need for a rights-based family planning approach.

"With informed choices, women will be able to determine the intervals of their pregnancies and the number of children they will have. They will not only remain as productive citizens of their nations but will, eventually, be producing quality human capital," Hon. Marija Pavilioniene from Lithuania says.

"Responsible family planning and the ability to make informed choices are essential for a successful population policy in a country that grows at 2.36% per year. Linking the improvement of health systems to the reduction of poverty and the promotion of equal opportunities is a vital pre-condition to increase the Philippine's performance in attaining the MDGs on health," Hon. Anne Van Lancker from Belgium says.

Moreover, Van Lancker reiterates that "Blaming the problem of population ageing to contraceptives is a complete mistake." She cites the case of Scandinavian countries, particularly Norway, where contraceptives are widely accessible to the people, but are not experiencing the problem of an ageing population. According to her, "These countries have become so successful because their governments have provided very strong support to their working women, enabling them to contribute to the economy and preserve their family life at the same time."

Hon. Kari Kjonaas Kjos of Norway supported this statement by sharing her country's experience. "Norway, a country with high economic performance and a very good social welfare system learned to invest in its people. The establishment of mother-child facilities, economic incentives for fathers to take parental leave and a pension system that covers everybody by the age of 67, employed or unemployed, led to constantly high economic standards," Kjos says.

"Because the people in said countries have access to contraceptives and can make informed choices, the cases of abortion drastically went down," Van Lancker adds.

"I know how difficult it is to reconcile traditional views on family planning with progressive, modern methods but in Portugal, a country with a long Catholic tradition, we discovered that it is the best way forward in ensuring the well-being of women as well as the attainment of sustainable economic growth," Hon. Maria Ofélia Moleiro explains.

The delegation also visited an urban poor community in Navotas where they saw firsthand the deprivation and deplorable situation of most Filipinos.

"The fight against poverty cannot be won by injecting money alone. Several factors must be considered to make growth sustainable and beneficial for all. This means responsible investment in strengthening the health and educational systems that reach everyone," Hon. Miguel Angel Martin Soledad of Spain says.

The week-long study tour is co-organized by the European Forum on Population and Development (EPF), a parliamentary network based in Brussels, Belgium, and by the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD).