History of the RH Law

What is reproductive health?• a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes.

• Even though RH is defined to be a person’s holistic health, matters relating to a couple’s sex life are inextricably linked to this topic.

RA 4729June 19, 1966

RA 5921June 21, 1969

Enactment of measuresto promote the mitigationof population growthDecember 11, 1967

RA 6365Aug 16, 1971

PD 71Dec 8, 1972

Contraceptive, Population, and Reproductive Health Laws

RA 9710Aug 14, 2009

RA 10354Dec 21, 2012

RA 4729 (June 19, 1966)• An Act to Regulate the Sale, Dispensation, and/or Distribution

of Contraceptive Drugs and Devices• Contraceptive drugs and devices were allowed• Sale, dispensation and distribution should be:

• by a duly licensed drug store or pharmaceutical company and• with the prescription of a qualified medical practitioner.

RA 5921 (June 21, 1969)• An Act Regulating the Practice of Pharmacy and Setting

Standards of Pharmaceutical Education in the Philippines• Contained provisions relative to "dispensing of abortifacients

or anti-conceptional substances and devices.”• "no drug or chemical product or device capable of provoking

abortion or preventing conception as classified by the Food and Drug Administration shall be delivered or sold to any person without a proper prescription by a duly licensed physician.” (Sec. 37)

RA 6365 (August 16, 1971)• An Act Establishing a National Policy on Population, Creating

the Commission on Population and for Other Purposes (Population Act)

• The law envisioned that "family planning will be made part of a broad educational program; safe and effective means will be provided to couples desiring to space or limit family size; mortality and morbidity rates will be further reduced."

PD 71 (December 8, 1972)• "Revising the Population Act of Nineteen Hundred And

Seventy-One.”• which, among others, made "family planning a part of a broad

educational program," provided "family planning services as a part of over-all health care," and made "available all acceptable methods of contraception, except abortion, to all Filipino citizens desirous of spacing, limiting or preventing pregnancies."

RA 9710 (August 14, 2009)• The Magna Carta for Women• Mandated the State to provide for comprehensive health

services and programs for women, including family planning and sex education, among others

RA 10354 (December 21, 2012)

• Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Law)

• Among others, mandated the State to provide for comprehensive health services and programs for women, including family planning and sex education.

• For it to be fully enforced, Implementing Rules and Regulations were created and approved on March 15, 2013, containing 18 Rules.