Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 307)
The purpose of Executive Order No. 307 is to implement a family planning program at the local government level to promote health, responsible parenthood, safe motherhood, and child survival, while respecting the constitutional rights of spouses and families.
The cited provisions are Section 15, Article II, which mandates the State to protect and promote the right to health, and Section 3, Article XV, which guarantees the rights of spouses to found a family according to their convictions, children’s rights to care and protection, the family’s right to a family wage, and participation in planning programs affecting them.
Local government units (LGUs), specifically governors, mayors of component cities and municipalities, as well as mayors of highly urbanized and independent component cities, are primarily responsible for the program’s implementation.
Local chief executives are required to promote the program through advocacy, ensure availability of information and services on family planning methods, ensure voluntary practice of family planning, provide budgetary support, coordinate with national agencies like the Department of Health and Population Commission, and involve non-government organizations and the private sector.
The practice of family planning must be purely on a voluntary basis, based on freedom of conscience and respect for the sanctity of life.
Yes, it explicitly includes Natural Family Planning among the approved methods and requires that information and services for all methods, including Natural Family Planning, be available at appropriate service outlets.
Section 16 assigns LGUs the primary responsibility for promoting people's health and safety, while Section 17 mandates LGUs to provide basic services including health and family planning services, thus supporting the implementation of the family planning program.
Yes, Section 4 requires local government units to provide the necessary budgetary support to the program.
EO No. 307 directs local chief executives to coordinate and encourage the involvement of NGOs and the private commercial sector in the family planning program in the spirit of public-private partnership.