All available slots for the free, no-scalpel vasectomy service offered by the University of the Philippines Diliman were filled within a day of the initiative’s announcement, the university announced Tuesday.

The prompt and significant turnout shows a “growing shift” in Filipino men’s sense of shared responsibility in family planning and reproductive health, Iskolar by Bayan wrote in a social media post.

The UP Center for Women and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), which oversees the initiative, assured that individuals who cannot be accommodated will be referred to alternative facilities that offer the same service.

“The swift turnout highlights the demand for accessible, permanent contraceptive options. UPCWGS assured registered individuals who could not be accommodated that they may be referred to partner facilities or prioritized for future service schedules,” the report read.

The initiative, which involves men in reproductive healthcare, aims to set the groundwork for a more “health-conscious and gender-equal society,” where the responsibility has largely been relegated to women.

“This student- and community-first initiative helps challenge traditional stigmas by actively involving men in reproductive healthcare, a responsibility that has historically fallen heavily on women,” the report said.

“By providing a safe, minimally invasive, and free medical option, programs like this help pave the way for a more health-conscious and gender-equal society,” it added.

Aside from the male condom, the most commonly used forms of contraception are often for females: the birth control pill, Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), and implants inserted under the skin of the upper arm.