26 October 2010 – We strongly believe government must encourage responsible parenthood and promote family planning as a direct strategy for poverty reduction and maternal and child healthcare. The active role envisioned for government in the promotion of family planning is in keeping with the expressed desire of a significant majority of Filipinos as manifested in major national surveys.
While various parties and interested sectors may provide advice and guidance to parents on alternative choices regarding family size and the means to achieve their desired objective, we believe these are decisions ultimately for the parents themselves to make.
We believe such a focused policy of family planning must provide lowest-cost access for the very poor to the services and materials to implement their free and informed choice.
We would be unequivocally opposed to any measure that condones abortion in any way, limits free choice, and mandates the means to implement such choice.
EMPLOYERS CONFEDERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES
MAKATI BUSINESS CLUB
MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
###