Duterte is Fighting the Catholic Church Over Providing Free Birth Control (HBO)

Synopsis

In the heavily Catholic Philippines, clergy members confront President Rodrigo Duterte's aggressive drug war and his push for a 2012 law that mandates free contraception for the nation's 100 million people. Duterte, known for his controversial statements, takes a significant step in January by signing an executive order to enforce access to reproductive health and sexual education, aiming to reduce poverty. The Philippines faces rising adolescent birth rates and high maternal mortality, prompting healthcare workers like nurse John Paul Domingo to educate young mothers on family planning. Many women previously resorted to unsafe alternatives due to the high cost of birth control. Community mobilizers, such as Nene Armayan, actively distribute free contraceptives and information in impoverished neighborhoods, where families struggle to make ends meet. Duterte's initiative marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between the government and the Catholic Church, as he seeks to improve the economic situation for women and families across the country.