PopCom: Free vasectomies today

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Population is offering free vasectomies at the PopCom wellness clinic in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City from 8 a.m. until noon today.

Lydio Espanol, PopCom National Capital Region director, said the commission has partnered with the No-Scalpel Vasectomy International Inc. (NVSI) in conducting the free vasectomies.

He said they are “targeting to service 50 male clients for this mission.”

Espanol added that PopCom has become interested in NSVI missions “as another way of promoting the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, particularly family planning, to male clients.” 

Based on the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey, less than one percent of males have availed of male sterilization and only two percent have used condoms as family planning methods.

Junice Melgar, executive director of health advocacy group Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, said vasectomy is not popular among Filipino men because of the culture of machismo and the lack of knowledge about the procedure.