Philippines' first family planning programme faces church hurdles

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

MANILA (AFP) — In a country where three babies are born each minute and the Catholic Church exerts heavy influence, the long battle for a family planning programme could finally be reaching its climax.

Philippine congressman Edcel Lagman, who has introduced a Reproductive Health Care Act that appears to be gaining widespread support, believes the time has come for the Philippines to take family planning seriously.

"Despite what the church is saying Filipino people, especially the poor, want family planning," he told AFP in an interview.

"They want to have control over what methods they use and they want the ability to choose without fearing a backlash from the church," he said.

National surveys by pollsters Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Station...