Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, a leader of the independent minority bloc in the House, said EO 12 would invigorate Republic Act No. 10354, otherwise known as the Reproductive Health (RH) Law. The EO ordered the budget department to “realign and augment appropriations” to support the full implementation of the RH Law in 2017, with the funding requirements in subsequent years to be included in the annual budget law. The law’s enforcement came into question as a result of a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court on the certification of contraceptive products. Catholic bishops, however, maintained that Mr. Duterte should respect the TRO instead of issuing directives to implement it.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 12, 2017 20:10 UTC