By Tara Yap

The Commission on Population for Region 6 (POPCOM-6) warned a ban on contraceptive implants would put women’s health at risk, with Regional Director Harold Marshall saying the ban “puts the lives of women at risk.”
The agency is trying to fight a temporary restraining order (TRO), which was implemented by the Supreme Court in 2015. The TRO halted the government’s procurement and distribution of two brands of contraceptive implants (Implanon and Implanon NXT) after a religious group claimed they induced abortions.
POPCOM-6 speculates an increase in maternal mortality in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.
In 2015, Marshall noted, there were 90 deaths per 100,000 live births in the region.
“Every woman in the region has an average of three to four children,” he pointed out. “That is one or more children than what they desire.”
Department of Health-Region 6 (DOH-6) Family Health and Nutrition Services chief, Dr. Mary Ann Matillano, confirmed 33,750 pieces of contraceptive implants have been turned over to local governments.
However, with the TRO, she said some of these contraceptive implants were not distributed to women./WDJ