Govt offers talks on birth control

Govt offers talks on birth control

MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' new health secretary said yesterday he would go "full-blast" to support the government's family planning program but would also seek an "open channel" with the Catholic church on the issue of birth control.

"I hope there would be more openness and less antagonism between the church and government," said Jaime Galvez Tan, who replaced former health secretary Juan Flavier following Flavier's resignation to run for senate in May.

Tan said he would seek cooperation between the government and the church to promote "natural family planning" methods which are approved by the Vatican.

The Catholic church, to which 85 percent of the 65 million Philippine population belongs, disallows the use of artificial contraceptives like the pill and the condom.