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Investing People
by Rey A. Computer Data Entry- 'Investing in people' -
Efforts to control the Philippines' population growth have long been hampered by the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, which counts about 80 percent of Filipinos as followers and which disapproves of all forms of artificial birth control.
It was only in April that the government finally overcame over a decade of Church opposition to implement a reproductive health law providing the poor with birth control services.
Perez said with the law's implementation, about two to three million women who previously did not have access to family planning now do.
Meanwhile, Father Melvin Castro, head of the commission on family and life of the country's Catholic bishops, was quoted by a church-run radio station as praising the ballooning population, as there would be more "young workers" to power the economy.
President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Herminio Coloma said the milestone showed the importance of making "the right investments in people".
The government had prepared for this by spending more on "human development", particularly education, he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Klaus Beck, country representative of the United Nations Population Fund, endorsed the Philippines' new focus on family planning in a statement issued to coincide with the population landmark.
"Governments that are serious about eradicating poverty should also be serious about providing the services, supplies, information that women, men and young people need to exercise their reproductive rights," he said.
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About Rey A. 
Computer Data Entry
12 connections, 0 recommendations, 40 honor points.Joined APSense since, October 2nd, 2011, From Philippines, Qatar.
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