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.