Excluding abortion, President Duterte has pushed for a revitalized implementation of the family planning program in the next three years in the country.
The President, who previously expressed concern about the predominantly Catholic nation’s ballooning population, asked the public not to depend too much on religion when it comes to family planning methods.
“Ang isang kulang na lang natin actually na how to get it started and you know get it rolling beginning at least in the next three years, ‘yang ibalik ninyo ‘yung family planning,” Duterte said during an agrarian reform event in Quezon City Tuesday night.
“I know of only two guys, presidents, who did it and it was (former President Fidel) Ramos who was a Protestant and ako na talagang pinipilit ko sa aking siyudad,” he added.
The President said when he was mayor of Davao City, he gave away birth control pills and urged job-seeking mothers to undergo ligation. He said his friend Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III was one of the contributors of his family planning program at the time.
Duterte also urged people to pray to God for guidance if they have questions about family planning, instead of just relying on the views of the church.
“Do not place too much importance about religion. Tutok ka lang sa Diyos. When you are in a moral quandary, do not go to your religion. It cannot help you. Maniwala kayo,” he said.
“At 74-years-old, I’m telling you. You go direct to your God and pray and ask for guidance, especially in matters of – ‘yang kasalanan ‘yang mag-family planning,” he added.
While he advocated birth control to curb population, the President has ruled out the legalization of abortion in the country. “Of course, abortion is out of the question. I will not allow it,” he said.
Duterte then slammed Iceland, which initiated a resolution seeking a probe on the Philippines’ war on drugs, for allowing abortion for up to six months of pregnancy.
He said Iceland lectured him on human rights and denounced alleged extrajudicial killings but it allows the “slaughter” of unborn babies.
“Iceland allows the slaughter of the fetus inside the womb of the mother up to six months. P***** i** nila. They worry more of the drug lords at itong mga who are pushing drugs, killing our citizens, and creating a social dysfunction in almost all,” he said.
“Tapos tinuturuan ako kung ano ang gawin ko. I am sorry for you. That’s why you are condemned there in the ice forever. I hope you will freeze in time,” he added. (Genalyn Kabiling)
