DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The population management agency of this region said Monday, December 4, that it plans to adopt a fatwa on republic health released by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“I want it to be implemented here because I have seen we also have Muslim brothers and sisters here and we want to educate them on this matter also,” Agnes Sampulna, regional director of the Commission on Population (POPCOM) in Region 11.
Sampulna, who was part of ARMM’s health sector prior to her assignment at POPCOM, cited that the fatwa may be useful in Davao as it stated that the use of contraceptives is not prohibited by Islam.
The fatwa, released by ARMM in 2016, covers family planning method, responsible parenthood, gender and violence against women and children concerns for the region.
According to Sampulna, the fatwa emphasized the “health care of the mother and the child.”
ARMM’s fatwa on reproductive health was signed and approved by the Assembly of Darul-Ifta of the Philippines, the highest organization of Islamic leaders in the country and the leaders from the Grand mosque of Mindanao.
Sampulna mentioned that she will be coordinating with Muslim leaders here in order to completely explain and share to them the proposal.
She hopes that by January next year, Davao will be able to adopt the ruling. (davaotoday.com)
ARMM, fatwa, Reproductive Health
