Opposing the Catholic Church, the European Union (EU) has asked Philippines to adopt a reproductive health policy. Catholic Church has been opposing it as they believe that slower population growth would improve health and reduce poverty.

The EU will be providing 35 million euro ($50 million) over four years to support health system reforms. It is believed that the new reform will be focused on increasing contraceptive usage in low-income and rural community.

The target of the bill is to raise the contraceptive prevalence rate, the present percentage of women aged 15 to 49 who are using or whose partners are using a modern method of conception are 54.4 only. The bill is aiming to raise it up to 80% by 2015.

The head of Operation at the European Union delegation office in Manila has said that their priority had always been to support reproductive health rights. He further said that it is vital for the government to make family planning available. President, Benigno has also showed his support for the bill, but the Congress has not given it priority.

Meanwhile, the United Nations delegation has also called on the Philippines to introduce a reproductive health policy to lower its high maternal death rate — an average of 11 women die in the country each day while giving birth.