Women in the Philippines continue to face dangerous and unregulated abortion practices as strict laws banning the procedure push many to seek abortifacients from online sellers.
Advocates, including the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health and the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network, say the restrictions have created a “chilling effect” among health workers and forced women to risk unsafe methods.
Data from advocacy groups show that more than 250 women are hospitalized daily due to complications from unsafe abortions, with several deaths reported each day.
The issue remains contentious, with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines maintaining strong opposition to abortion based on religious doctrine.
Experts say the debate increasingly highlights the tension between moral arguments and calls to treat abortion as a public health concern.
Source: PhilNews24 | March 17, 2026
