Advocates in Lanao del Sur commit to further improve RH advocacy in the province

Everyone can contribute to raising public awareness about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law.

With this in mind, the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), in partnership with Al-Mujadilah Development Foundation, gathered various stakeholders at the local government, civil society, Muslim religious institutions, and ARCHES community in a training of facilitators on the key points of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law and provincial SRH network meeting in Iligan City on April 4.

The activity aimed to capacitate participants in discussing the concept of reproductive health and the rights and entitlements of Filipinos in relation to this as enshrined in the RPRH Law. Resource persons discussed the national and regional RH situations, the salient provisions of the RPRH Law, and the fatwa on family planning and reproductive health.

Dr. Alinader Manalang, Provincial Health Officer of Lanao del Sur, shared the provincial RH situation in Lanao del Sur, highlighting that the Marawi siege greatly affected the situation, especially of women and girls, but also mentioning some opportunities for advancing the RH advocacy in the province, such as strengthening partnership with local stakeholders.

On the discussion of Fatwa on Family Planning and Reproductive Health, Aleem Anwar Radiamoda emphasized the basic values of Islam, the parenting approach, marriage and violence against women and girls in Islam, and the salient points of the fatwa.

Ms. Au Quilala, Project Manager of PLCPD, discussed the salient features of the law and the challenges it encountered since its passage in 2012. She also facilitated the workshop in which the participants were able to clarify and answer the frequently asked questions that they encounter about RH and the RPRH Law.

The second half of the program was devoted to the launch and organization of the Purple Ribbon for RH (PR4RH) in Lanao del Sur. Facilitated by Mr. Mr. Cezario Magpayo, Project Manager of PLCPD, the participants expressed their support for RH. Coming from various sectors, the participants committed their organizations’ or individual support to advocate RH in their communities.