Philippines' Duterte launches birth control push

Women's rights groups on Thursday applauded Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's vow to deliver free contraceptives to six million women in a bid to salvage the government's floundering family planning programme. Foreign and local authorities have long cited the need for improved birth control in the Philippines which has one of Asia's highest birth rates as well as high maternal mortality rates. Duterte ordered government agencies on Wednesday to "intensify and accelerate the implementation of critical actions" to address the "unmet" family planning needs of up to six million Filipina women.