Special budget for population control vowed

Speaker Jose de Venecia said yesterday he will propose a special budget in the House of Representatives for a massive information drive "among the country’s poorest families" on the use of the natural or rhythm method of contraception.

At the same time, the Speaker called for "responsible parenthood" and for the strengthening of the family as the country’s population this year hit 76.5 million, the 14th highest growth rate in the world and the ninth in all of Asia, behind a 2.36 percent annual growth rate.

"We should not create a confrontation between population policy-makers and the Church on the use of the rhythm method. We should give it a chance to work," he said.

De Venecia spoke at a forum on the State of the Philippine Population, Health and Environment where he made a personal endorsement of the proposed Integrated Population and Development Act.