As intimacies between couples who are locked down together break the barriers of social distancing, the Reproductive Health Law or R.A. No. 10354 gains more relevance today.

In the midst of lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, spouses and partners need to avail themselves of contraceptives and other effective methods of family planning to prevent unplanned, unwanted and high-risk pregnancies.

I am the principal author of the Reproductive Health Law which was enacted on December 21, 2012, or almost eight years ago, and upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court.

I urge the government to continue discharging its mandate of extending free reproductive health supplies and services to acceptors from the marginalized sectors.

Drug stores and pharmacies must have adequate stocks of contraceptives and other RH supplies for those who could afford to buy reproductive health products.

The RH Law provides that contraceptives which are certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are essential medicines under the Philippine National Drug Formulary System.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN