‘DOH proposed nearly P14 billion to fund RH bill in 2012’

SENATOR PIA CAYETANO REVEALS:
‘DOH proposed nearly P14 billion to fund RH bill in 2012’ By Maila Ager  |  INQUIRER.net |  6:37 pm | Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health is proposing close to P14 billion to fund the controversial Reproductive Health bill in 2012, Senator Pia Cayetano disclosed during plenary deliberations of the measure on Tuesday.

“For 2012, (the DOH is asking) P13.7 billion,” Cayetano, head of the Senate committee on health and demography, responding to Senator Lito Lapid’s query.

Based on the DOH’s proposal, P18.5 million would be allocated for capacity building, P12.5 million for priority health program, and P3 million for the major final output of the health policy and development program.

But Cayetano quickly clarified that she has not yet given her support for the proposed budget, saying it was just the proposal submitted by the DOH.

Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile then took the floor and expressed his surprise about the proposed budget for the bill.

“I was struck by the statement of the sponsor that there were proposals already about the budgetary component of this measure…” said Enrile , who is strongly opposing the passage of the bill.
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The excerpt below is lifted verbatim out of the Executive Summary
of National Security Study Memorandum No. 200, aka, NSSM 200.

30.  The World Population Plan of Action is not self-enforcing and will require vigorous efforts by interested countries, U.N. agencies and other international bodies to make it effective. U.S. leadership is essential. The strategy must include the following elements and actions: (a) Concentration on key countries.  Assistance for population moderation should give primary emphasis to the largest and fastest growing developing countries where there is special U.S. political and strategic interest. Those countries are: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey, Ethiopia and Colombia. Together, they account for 47 percent of the world's current population increase. (It should be recognized that at present AID bilateral assistance to some of these countries may not be acceptable.) Bilateral assistance, to the extent that funds are available, will be given to other countries, con- sidering such factors as population growth, need for external assistance, long-term U.S. interests and willingness to engage in self-help. Multi- lateral programs must necessarily have a wider coverage and the bilateral programs of other national donors will be shaped to their particular interests. At the same time, the U.S. will look to the multilateral agencies -- especially the U.N. Fund for Population Activities which already has projects in over 80 countries -- to increase population assistance on a broader basis with increased U.S. contributions. This is desirable in terms of U.S. interests and necessary in political terms in the United Nations. But progress nevertheless, must be made in the key 13 and our limited resources should give major emphasis to them. (b) Integration of population factors and population programs into country development planning. As called for by the world Population Plan of Action, developing countries and those aiding them should specifically take population factors into account in national planning and include population pro- grams in such plans. (c) Increased assistance for family planning services, information and technology.  This is a vital aspect of any world population program. (1) Family planning information and materials based on present technology should be made fully available as rapidly as possible to the 85% of the populations in key LDCs not now reached, essen- tially rural poor who have the highest fertility. (2) Fundamental and developmental research should be expanded, aimed at simple, low-cost, effective, safe, long-lasting and acceptable methods of ferti- lity control. Support by all federal agencies for biomedical research in this field should be increased by $60 million annually. (d) Creating conditions conducive to fertility decline.  For its own merits and consistent with the recommendations of the World Population Plan of Action, priority should be given in the general aid program to selective development policies in sectors offering the greatest promise of increased motivation for smaller family size. In many cases pilot programs and experimental research will be needed as guidance for later efforts on a larger scale. The preferential sectors include:     * Providing minimal levels of education,       especially for women;     * Reducing infant mortality, including       through simple low-cost health care networks;     * Expanding wage employment, especially       for women;     * Developing alternatives to children as       a source of old age security;     * Increasing income of the poorest,       especially in rural areas, including       providing privately owned farms;     * Education of new generations on the       desirability of smaller families. While AID has information on the relative importance of the new major socio-economic factors that lead to lower birth rates, much more research and experimentation need to be done to determine what cost effective programs and policy will lead to lower birth rates. (e) Food and agricultural assistance is vital for any population sensitive development strategy.  The provision of adequate food stocks for a growing population in times of shortage is crucial. Without such a program for the LDCs there is considerable chance that such shortage will lead to conflict and adversely affect population goals and developmental efforts. Specific recommendations are included in Section IV(c) of this study. (f) Development of a worldwide political and popular commitment to population stabilization is fundamental to any effective strategy.  This requires the support and commitment of key LDC leaders. This will only take place if they clearly see the negative impact of unrestricted population growth and believe it is possible to deal with this question through governmental action. The U.S. should encourage LDC leaders to take the lead in advancing family planning and population stabilization both within multi- lateral organizations and through bilateral contacts with other LDCs. This will require that the President and the Secretary of State treat the subject of population growth control as a matter of paramount importance and address it specifically in their regular contacts with leaders of other governments, particularly LDCs.