THE PHILIPPINES JOINS THE WORLD IN CELEBRATING WORLD CONTRACEPTION DAY AS PART OF THE

INTENSIFIED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM ON FAMILY PLANNING

These data make it more significant to bring the WCD celebration in the region. The
advocate city will serve as a model for other local governments who want to contribute
towards bringing better reproductive health to their people despite of the challenges
they face in their area.

According to the 2017 NDHS, Filipino women, on average, have one child more than
they intended; and the figures are highest among women from the lowest wealth quintile
and lowest educational attainment. Data show roughly one in ten women aged 15-19
have begun childbearing and 17% of women aged 15-49 want to practice FP but do not
have access to said FP methods.

Undersecretary Juan Antonio A. Perez III, the Executive Director of POPCOM said, “FP
is not just about access to contraceptives but also a human development issue as we
empower women and couples to make informed choices about their sexual
and reproductive health and rights.  Having an option means having the power and a
choice to decide for your future.

Usec. Perez stressed that the government is determined to respect, promote and
ultimately fulfill the promise of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health
(RPRH) law, especially with the marching order from President Duterte to intensify the
implementation of the National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).

MESSAGE OF USEC. JUAN ANTONIO A. PEREZ III

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON THE OCCASION OF
FPOP’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) extends its warmest
greetings to the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) on this
momentous event as you celebrate your golden year of service to our fellow
countrymen, particularly couples through addressing their unmet needs in Family
Planning.

FPOP has been our steadfast partner and alliance in providing access to quality FP
information, as well as services, especially in areas where both information, education
and services are limited particularly at the community level. This, as FPOP has
established itself as a Civil Society Organization (CSO) working on FP in the country, as
well as being a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF),
which makes FPOP be more widely renowned as enabler of sexual and reproductive
health among couples needing FP services.

 
Your work in the past 50 years in advocating sexual and reproductive health and rights
for all Filipinos, especially in the marginalized sector, have already borne fruit, and as
your partner government agency in this endeavor, let us together reap the fruits of our
labor yet not rest in our laurels as we continue to reach out to the underserved sectors
of our society.

We are on the last mile of our journey to achieve stable, prosperous population
development as the Philippine Demographic Dividend shows early gains.

As our partner in delivering information and services in the communities, we fervently

hope that the work you have begun will never falter as the road to empowering Filipino
families has just opened many possibilities to further extend our reach – to the most far-
flung areas, advancing the health of everyone through Family Planning, eradicating HIV
and AIDS, abating unplanned pregnancies, advocating against violence and
discrimination.

1,600 LGUS ENJOINED TO INTENSIFY FAMILY

PLANNING PROGRAM THROUGH LOCAL
POPULATION OFFICERS
The directive of President Duterte to intensify the implementation of the National
Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP) gained the support of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Secretary Eduardo Año
released last July 8, 2019 Memorandum Circular 2019-100 that enjoins the appointment
and designation of Local Population Officers in all 1,600 local government units (LGUs).
The memorandum also mandates the mobilization of barangay and community officials
and volunteers to support the said national program.

The memorandum emphasizes the critical role of LGUs in ensuring the delivery of the
full range of family planning information and services especially among the marginalized
and undeserved population.

Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, the Executive Director of the Commission on
Population and Development said that “The POPCOM greatly appreciates DILG for this
policy support. The appointment and designation of local population officers and
mobilization of community officials and volunteers augurs well for the national objective
of promoting family planning towards the reduction of poverty by 2022.”

“The organization and mobilization of community volunteers and workers are crucial in
bringing FP services and information closer to the people, ensuring that quality supplies
are accessible through service providers and all possible access points, aside from
health facilities”, he said.
POPCOM Chair and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
Secretary Dr. Ernesto Pernia and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Francisco
Duque have also been very vocal in their support on the operation and existence of
Local Population Offices nationwide as they provide the structure and necessary
manpower to ensure that all Filipinos have access to responsible parenthood and
reproductive health information, enabling Filipino couples, especially the poor, to have
their desired number and spacing in the context of informed choice.
Both secretaries penned their support with the signing of the Joint Memorandum
Circular for NPPFP on February 15, 2019 during the POPCOM Board of
Commissioners’ meeting in NEDA, Pasig.

The NPPFP was revitalized to address the challenge of addressing adequately the
needs of the growing population in the country today. The FP program was officially
launched in 1969 through Executive Order 171, and institutionalized as a national policy
then through Republic Act 6365 and Presidential Decree No. 79. Fifty years later,
the program will be strengthened to enable more Filipinos to access FP services and
speed up impact to social and economic development in a wider scale.

This move is apt as POPCOM is set to recognize outstanding Population Officers in the
population program, dubbed as Kaunlarang Pantao Award, inspired by the early
population and development works of Rafael M. Salas, who is also internationally
known as “Mr. Population”.

This memo circular is in compliance to the Executive Order No. 12 entitled “Attaining
and Sustaining Zero Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning” issued by President
Rodrigo Duterte. The order mandates the DOH, POPCOM, DILG, and other relevant
agencies, including local government units (LGUs), to attain and sustain zero unmet
need for Family Planning.

THE PHILIPPINES MARKS WORLD POPULATION DAY ON JULY 11: HALF OF THE JOURNEY MADE SINCE
THE 1994 CAIRO POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT MEETING

P R E S S   R E L E A S E

The Philippines marks World Population Day on July 11: Half of the journey made since the 1994 Cairo
Population and Development Meeting

The Philippines joins the World Population Day on 11 July, with its theme, “25 Years of the ICPD,”
looking back at the country’s gains and challenges since the 1994 International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt.

In 1994, Filipinos made up 1.21 percent of the world population. 25 years after, it increased to 1.40
percent. 1 With some 108 million people, the Philippines is now the 13 th most populous country in the
world. 2 Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that the country’s population
continues to increase in numbers, approximately three babies born per minute, but the rate of growth
has declined to 1.76% annually since the 2015 population census. Under this growth rate, the country’s
population is expected to double in the next 39 years.

Significant progress has been made from 1994 for instance in- Total Fertility Rate (from 4.1 in 1993 to
2.7 in 2017) and Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (from 25% in 1993 to 40% in 2017). 3 Gains were
due to continued government efforts in advocating for Family Planning (FP) programs, despite hurdles
from various groups.

Moreover, policies pursuant to the ICPD agenda in the country were also implemented, including the full
implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law as one of the
priority socioeconomic agenda; issuance of Executive Order No. 12 to achieve and sustain zero unmet
need for modern family planning by 2022; and the approval by President Rodrigo Duterte of the
intensified implementation of the National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).

25 years after ICPD, the country still needs to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR),
including on gender-based violence. While significant strides have been made, particularly in the area of
civil rights as girls acquire more education and enter the workforce, they continue to face challenges in
the private sphere of their homes, where their decisions and actions are often questioned and
sometimes met with coercion and violence. These are the stark inequalities that hold back women in
realizing their full potential.

26 percent of ever-married women of reproductive age still experience violence from their husbands or
partners, whether in the form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse (National Demographic and Health
Survey, 2017).

The 2019 State of the World Population (SWOP) Report placed emphasis on gender issues as one
impediment in the advancement of SRHR. As Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Natalia Kanem stated, “We must push back against forces that
would see us return to a time when women had little say in reproductive decisions or, for that matter, in
any area of their lives. The fight for rights and choices must continue until they are a reality for all.”

Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Undersecretary Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III
believes that attitudes towards gender roles have consequences, on how individuals and couples form
their families, perceive female employment, run the workplace and other institutions like church and
school. “People-centered development where individuals are empowered has been the core of our
advocacy — from educating girls, engaging men and women, and recognizing the role of the bigger
society we all live in,” Usec. Perez said.

18% OF FILIPINO WOMEN DEMAND MODERN NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES

For Filipino women, Natural Family Planning (NFP) is deemed important as 18 percent still demand for
modern NFP methods, alongside other Family Planning (FP), thus reiterating the country’s unmet need
for FP.1

Pursuant to the Department of Health (DOH) Department Circular No. 50-A, series of 1995, the month of
May is recognized as Natural Family Planning Month. With this year’s theme “Pamilyang Planado,
Panalo!”  the celebration encourages shared responsibility among couples so that they could have
happy, healthy and well-planned families. According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health
Survey (NDHS), poor and less educated women continue to have more children than they planned.

The highlight of the NFP month celebration this year will be the launch of the Natural Family Planning
Handbook and Manual, published by the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM). In
addition, a signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between POPCOM and the
Responsible Parenthood and All-Natural Family Planning (RP-ANFP) Network will take place on May 31,
2019, 10:30 AM in La Breza Hotel, Quezon City. The NFP Manual and Handbook will provide information
about available methods for FP, with each method having an effectivity of about 95 to 99 percent. This
partnership aims to widen the reach of users in terms of the NFP program implementation.

ANNUAL REPORT ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW: IMPROVED

OUTCOMES, BETTER POLICIES

The 2018 Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law Annual Report showcased
significant strides in the implementation of the RPRH Law, after three (3) years under President
Duterte’s administration.

The administration launched the National Program for Population and Family Planning as the
government strengthened the socio-economic component of its population program by issuing
Executive Order 71 in December 2018. This move has given prominence to the role of population and
reproductive health in national and economic development.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has also issued the National Objectives for Health 2017-2022,
which aims to achieve universal health care for adolescents, mothers, and persons living with HIV,
among others.

Of the five (5) Key Result Areas monitored annually, there are many noteworthy improvements. Below
are some of the highlights:

KRA 1: Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN)

Although there have been hurdles encountered in the immunization program, other aspects of MNCHN
saw notable progress: an increase in Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) and Facility-Based Delivery (FBD).
SBA went from 90 percent to 94 percent and FBD from 93 percent to 95 percent. Figures were from the
2017 and 2018 Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS), respectively.

Communication activities to increase awareness on the benefits of vaccination and inform people on the
risks of infectious diseases, particularly measles, were also conducted.

KRA 2: Family Planning

Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate in family planning for both the public and private sector showed
an increasing trend, from 52.89 percent to 56.67 percent, according to the 2017 and 2018 FHSIS .

Demand generation activities such as Responsible Parenthood-Family Planning (RPFP) classes, Pre-
marriage orientation and counselling sessions and Kalalakihang Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon
sa Pamilya (KATROPA), were able to reach more than 200,000 women of reproductive ages with unmet
need for modern family planning (MFP). Of these, 85 percent were referred and served with MFP
methods.
Family Planning in the workplace, a new initiative by POPCOM, aims to integrate RPFP in human
resource development programs of national government agencies.

KRA 3: Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH)

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority Civil Registration Service revealed that babies born to
adolescent mothers declined from 203,085 in 2016 to 196,478 in 2017. However, globally, UNFPA
reports that the Philippines ranks among countries with the worst performance in adolescent fertility.

These figures prove that we still have a long way to go to equip and empower the young people of the
country.

KRA 4: Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS

The increasing proportion of young people aged 15-24 infected with the virus has been alarming; from
13 percent between 1999 to 2008 to 29 percent between 2009 to 2018. Sexual contact remains to be
the primary mode of transmission and has been so since 1984.

Stigma and discrimination are still prevalent which makes it harder for individuals, particularly
adolescents, to acquire screening services.

KRA 5: Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC)

In 2018, the World Economic Forum ranked the Philippines 8 th among 149 countries in the Global
Gender Gap. The country has narrowed the gender gap to 80 percent.

Trends in reported VAW cases were seen to be decreasing, from 25,805 in 2017 to 18,974 cases in 2018,
according to the DOH VAWC Registry System.

POPCOM continues to support and work for the implementation of the RPRH Law and, with continued
efforts and partnerships among stakeholders, particularly NEDA and DOH, we will soon address the
many challenges faced in the implementation of the Law and fulfill our promise made to the women,
youth and all Filipinos.

NATIONAL PROGRAM ON POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING TO BE RE-LAUNCHED IN ALBAY, BICOL

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the National Program on Population and Family Planning or
NPPFP.

Programs and policies on family planning have been reassessed overtime in different administrations—
from a strong emphasis on population growth to a focus on the health and wellbeing of women and
couples. NPPFP’s goal, with the initiatives of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA),
Department of Health (DOH) and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), are
tasked to harmonize these contexts and create a sustained commitment towards a holistic national
development, influencing health, education and economic outcomes.

According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Filipino women, on average,
have one child more than they intended; and the figures are highest among women from the lowest
wealth quintile and lowest educational attainment. However, the fertility rate or the actual number of
children in the Philippines has gone down from three children in 2013 down to 2.7 in 2017.

POPCOM Undersecretary Dr. Juan A. Antonio Perez III said, “With the declining trend in the recent NDHS
and the approved NPPFP, there is no room for complacency. We are thankful for the current
administration’s support in the FP program. Rest assured that POPCOM will continue to work hard in
giving the best FP information and services to every Filipino family for them to be empowered and
eventually achieve a better quality of life.”

To continue its commitment towards well-planned Filipino families and communities, POPCOM will
conduct a Family Planning Caravan where the NPPFP will be re-launched at The Concourse II, Tabaco
City, Albay, Bicol on March 20, 2019. This event aims to provide RPFP information and services to
around 200 people. These services are Family Planning (FP) Counseling and procedures like Bilateral
Tubal Ligation (BTL) and No Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV).

The FP Caravan will also feature some of the most innovative demand generation activities of POPCOM:
KATROPA or Kalalakihang Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya, which discusses male
involvement in the family; and Parent-Teen Talk, which nurtures parents and their children’s
communication regarding sexual and reproductive health.

Total fertility rates (TFR) in the Bicol region was at a record high of 4.1 children per woman, according to
the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). In 2017, fertility rate dropped to 3.2— a
success attributed to the combined and continued efforts of local and national government agencies,
civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, service providers, young people and other key
stakeholders. Unmet need for family planning also saw a drop from 25.1 in 2013 to 21.3 in 2017.

POPCOM AND DILG TOWARDS LOCALIZED IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAM ON

POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING

Local Governance and Family Planning. Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Usec.
Juan Antonio A. Perez III meets with the Department Interior and Local Governance (DILG) Secretary
Eduardo Año for a responsive and localized implementation of the National Program on Population and
Family Planning (NPPFP). With the President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of the strengthened NPPFP,
POPCOM ensures that local government units are at the forefront of the program for couples and
individuals’ need for Family Planning.

WOMEN’S MONTH IN 2019 HIGHLIGHTS HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION:

PROGRAMS ON POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING TO BENEFIT OVER 11 MILLION FILIPINOS
LAUNCHED

President Rodrigo Duterte and the entire Cabinet agreed last Monday, March 4, that it is time to get
serious on reproductive health and family planning, auspiciously as the country celebrates Women’s
Month.

Not since the administration of Fidel Ramos (1992-1998) has the National Program Family Planning had
such prominence. National Economic and Development Authority Secretary (NEDA) Ernesto Pernia, the
Chair of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), got the President’s consent for
POPCOM and the Department of Health to intensify and expand the Family Planning (FP) program in the
next four years.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III and National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia signing the Joint Memorandum Circular for NPPFP on
February 15, 2019 at NEDA Office, Pasig City.

The approved program will nearly double the number of women and men practicing FP from 6.5 million
to 11.3 million. POPCOM in particular is expected to provide information to over 2 million women and
couples every year for the next four years. With support from the Department of Health (DOH), Local
government units (LGU), population and health workers will provide FP services to at least 1 million
women and men every year. POPCOM will also work with NGOs, faith-based organizations and private
health providers to assist local governments in the program.

While the FP program will continue to prioritize the poorest Filipinos who are in greatest need for FP,
POPCOM will also open new service points for workers, farmers, fisherfolk and marginalized populations
who have not been covered by public health service providers.

As an initial step, NEDA, DOH and POPCOM signed a Joint Memorandum Circular 2019-1 last February
15 aimed at addressing the needs of the country’s growing population and its impact on social and
economic development through a co-managed (by DOH and POPCOM) and harmonized National
Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).

Population growth rate has seen a decline in past years but the number of Filipinos is still increasing
given its large population base and a fertility rate which has remained the highest in the ASEAN region,
the 2018 State of the World Population Report revealed.

The plan gave utmost importance to the gap between wanted and actual number of children and the
consistently high unmet need for family planning among adolescents aged 15 to 19. According to the
2017 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Filipino women, on average, have one child
more than they intended; and the figures are highest among women from the lowest wealth quintile
and lowest educational attainment. Unmet need for family planning has also increased since the 2008
NDHS, with vital registration records revealing more than 200,000 births per year from adolescents aged
10-19.

The government’s intensification of its family planning program aims for an increased usage of modern
contraceptives, from 40 percent to 65 percent of women of reproductive age 15-49 years old by 2022.
This could benefit 11.3 million Filipino women and “promote better health and socioeconomic
development,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement. While the Responsible
Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law has made significant strides in addressing the needs of the
population since its passage in 2012, there is still a lot of work to be done to enable women and couples
to achieve their desired number of children.

The approval of the plan comes in time for the celebration of national women’s month. Women’s role in
national development is further highlighted as POPCOM continues to empower women and couples to
make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

This year, as in the past years, POPCOM has joined the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in
celebrating the month of March as National Women’s Month. Since 2017 and until 2022, PCW has given
strong emphasis on the contributions of women to national change, embodied in the theme: “We Make
Change Work for Women.”
POPCOM will ensure that this change will happen by providing an enabling environment to engage
women and provide proper programs and policies for their benefit.

All for NPPFP: Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Undersecretary for Population and
Development Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez presenting the signed Joint Memorandum Circular for National
Program on Population and Family Planning that aims to address the challenge of addressing adequately
the needs of the growing population in the country today.

POPCOM Undersecretary Dr. Juan A. Antonio Perez III said, “POPCOM’s 50 years of service has been
anchored on women and their active roles in both the private sphere of the home and in the public
sphere of the workplace. During this Women’s Month, which coincides with the launching of the
national family planning program, we honor the women who have become the backbone of our
population advocacies. Time has since proven that, given the right information and services, they can be
whoever they want to be— doctors, educators, scientists, leaders and mothers.”

NEDA, DOH, AND POPCOM SIGN JOINT MEMO CIRCULAR FOR NATIONAL PROGRAM ON FAMILY
PLANNING FOR 11.4 MILLION FILIPINOS

The intensified implementation of the National Program on Family Planning (NPFP) is set to roll in the
succeeding months as National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto M.
Pernia and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco T. Duque penned their support with the
signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular for NPFP on February 15, 2019 during the POPCOM Board of
Commissioners’ meeting in NEDA, Pasig.

The National Program on Family Planning or NPFP will be revitalized to address the challenge of
addressing adequately the needs of the growing population in the country today. The NPFP was officially
launched in 1969 through Executive Order 171, and institutionalized as a national policy then through
Republic Act 6365 and Presidential Decree No. 79. Fifty years on, the program will be strengthened to
enable more Filipinos to access Family Planning (FP) services and speed up impact to social and
economic development in a wider scale. 

The Family Planning Program through the years was beset with opposition from various sectors, the
prevailing myths and misconceptions among Filipino couples, and the changing policy priorities both at
the national and local levels.

With the enabling support of President Duterte himself when he issued Executive Order No. 12 to attain
Zero Unmet need for Modern Family Planning, POPCOM Undersecretary Juan Antonio A. Perez III said
“the NPFP is designed with intensified strategies in terms of program management, engaging more
participation from LGUs, Civil Society Organizations, private sector as well as partner agencies in the
provision of services and demand generation”.

Under the aegis of the National Program on Family Planning, four million women and individuals will be
covered with services in the next four years.

“Family Planning has health and socio-economic outcomes,” according to Executive Director Perez, “Up
to 2.4 Million abortions will be prevented and over 2,000 maternal deaths will be averted in the next
four years. In the same period, the program will lift 2 Million Filipinos from poverty, and contribute to
overall poverty reduction in the country by 2022.”

Over the next four years, the Country is expected to allocate 11.4 Billion Pesos to fund DOH and
POPCOM Activities related to Family Planning.

“The organization and mobilization of community volunteers and workers will also be revived to bring FP
services and information closer to the people, ensuring that quality supplies are accessible through
service providers and all possible access points, aside from health facilities,” added USec. Perez.

NEDA Sec. Pernia and DOH Sec. Duque jointly unveiled the National Program on Family Planning on the
occasion of POPCOM’s 50th Anniversary at UP BGC. POPCOM also presented its new publications such as
the SHAPE Adolescents’ Toolkit, Parent Teen Talk, Information and Service Delivery Network (ISDN)
Handbook, Natural Family Planning Manual and Handbook, Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling
Handbook and the Demographic Dividend booklet.

These materials will be used in the nationwide demand generation activities and information campaign
to be implemented by POPCOM and its partners at the local levels as part of bringing critical information
to all Filipinos.

NATIONAL PROGRAM ON FP RELAUNCHED BY DOH AND POPCOM AS POPCOM TURNS 50

The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) will celebrate its 50th year anniversary on
February 19, 2019 with the relaunch of a strengthened national program on family planning by Sec.
Ernesto Pernia and Sec. Francisco Duque. The National Program on Family Planning (NPFP) will be co-
managed by Undersecretaries from DOH (USEC. Eric Domingo, MD) and POPCOM (USEC. Juan Antonio
Perez III, MD).

POPCOM celebrates its 50th year with the theme “POPCOMat50: Naglilingkod Tungo sa Planado at
Maginhawang Pamilyang Pilipino”.

Since its creation on February 19, 1969, POPCOM has taken the lead in contributing to the improvement
of the quality of life of all Filipino families by empowering them through responsible parenting, family
planning, adolescent health and development and population and development integration.

“Limang dekada ang lumipas na puno ng makabuluhang pangyayari sa pagsulong ng programa sa

populasyon. Ang hindi matatawarang paglilingkod ng mga tao na bumubuo ng aming ahensiya ang
dahilan ng pananatili ng POPCOM ng limampung taon. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, patuloy kayong
makakaasa na ang POPCOM ay masigasig na maglilingkod sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino tungo sa sama-
samang pag-unlad,” said POPCOM Executive Director USEC Juan A. Antonio Perez III. 

A four-day series of activities will be held on February 19-22, 2019. A kickoff event is set at the University
of the Philippines, BGC Campus in the morning of February 19, during the Philippine Population
Association (PPA) Annual Scientific Conference. It will feature the relaunch of the National Program on
FP and POPCOM’s publications that will be released this year with audiences from different stakeholders
of the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP).

Second part of the celebration will be held at the POPCOM grounds in the afternoon of the same day.
This is the opening ceremony in celebration of this historic occasion. Other activities during the
succeeding days will happen at the Tagaytay International Convention Center where the agency’s
employees nationwide are expected to join this anniversary observance.

The Philippine Population Program was officially launched through the Executive Order No. 171 (Feb. 19,
1969) and POPCOM was mandated to serve as the central coordinating and policy making body of the
government in the field of population since then.

POPCOM BUILDS AWARENESS ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT DURING THE 2019 NATIONAL
POPULATION QUIZ

The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), in collaboration with the Department of
Education (DepEd), will conduct the 2019 National Population Quiz (POPQUIZ) on January 28 to 31, 2019
in Dagupan City as part of the annual National Festival of Talents (NFOT).

With the theme Ang Kabataang Pinoy: Ang Aking Tungkulin Tungo sa Planado at Maginhawang
Pamilyang Pilipino,  this year’s POPQUIZ aims to stress the crucial role of Filipino youth towards an
empowered and well-planned families.

The 2017 World Population Data Sheet of the Population Reference Bureau, indicated that the world
youth population (ages 15 to 24) is projected to rise to 1.4 billion in 2050 from 1.2 billion now.

In the Philippines, the 2015 Census of Population also showed that the percentage share of the young
people to the total population has remained more or less stable at 20% between 1960 and 2015. The
youth population comprised of about 20.1 Million, half of which are adolescents aged 15-19 sailing for
adulthood in the next few years. (PSA, 2015 and YAFS, 2013)

Given this number, POPCOM Executive Director USEC Juan Antonio A. Perez III stressed the crucial role
of young people in national development and that they need to be given quality information and
services to realize their potentials as catalysts for change.  

The 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that
21.6% or almost one fourth of the Philippine population is living below the poverty threshold. This
condition will have a big impact in the safety, health and wellbeing of children within the family. Several
consequences can branch out of this situation like children not going to school. And when children can’t
go to school, they remain ignorant of the changes happening around them, especially in their bodies.
With this lack of education, young people may engage themselves in different risky affairs such as vices
and early sexual encounters; the latter being the most prevalent among adolescents below 18 years old.

With this, POPCOM and DepEd urge the implementation of programs, projects and activities that will
strongly uphold the promotion of Adolescent Health and Development. NFOT which includes the
National POPQUIZ is an innovative way to reach young people and involve them in the advocacy while
showcasing their skills and talents.    
POPCOM HEAD APPOINTED AS UNDERSECRETARY FOR POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

To intensify the Population Management Program particularly the National Family Planning Program,
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia appointed Dr. Juan
Antonio A. Perez III as the Undersecretary for the Population and Development and Executive Director V
of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM).

Dr. Perez has had over 27 years of experience in public and private sector health programs in the
Philippines. Before joining POPCOM as Executive Director five years ago, he has managed substantial
programs for the Philippines Department of Health, USAID, the World Bank and the Asian Development
Bank.

Dr. Perez was previously assigned as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Director IV of the Bureau of Local Health
Development, DOH.

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our agency on February 19, 2019, significant changes are also
expected to happen. With POPCOM’s expanded mandate, we will double our efforts and commitment in
serving and empowering Filipino families. Every POPCOM staff plays an equally important role in
continuing the implementation of the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP), which our
Agency started five decades ago.” Dr. Perez said.

This appointment is pursuant to Executive Order 71 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December
13, 2018. Said Order tasked the now Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) to
strengthen the integration of population and development in increasing the country’s potential
economic growth.

LAKAS PAGGAWA NG PINAS, AABOT SA 70 MILYON: TINATAYANG 109 MILYONG PINOY SA DULO NG
2019

Sa patuloy na pagdami ng populasyon, aabot sa humigit kumulang 108,885,096 ang bilang ng mga
Pilipino sa taong 2019, base sa pagtataya ng Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM)
gamit ang Sensus ng Populasyon taong 2015 (Philippine Statistics Authority).

Ang dami ng mga Pilipinong nasa edad na puwede nang magtrabaho ay madaragdagan ng higit 1.4
Milyon (1,433,620), kaya mararating nito ang bilang na 70,121,863 sa pagtatapos ng taong 2019.
Samantala, ang mga Pilipinong hindi kabilang sa lakas paggawa (edad 15 anyos pababa at edad 65 anyos
pataas) ay lolobo ng 363,043 para maabot ang bilang na 38,482,360 (38,119,367 noong taong 2018).

Ang “dependency ratio” ng bansa (number of dependents over the number of people of working age) ay
papalo sa 55, mas mababa sa ratio noong 2018 (55.5). Ibig sabihin, ang mataas na “dependency ratio” ay
pabigat sa mga manggagawa na kumikita ng sapat para masuportahan ang kanilang sarili at isa pang
“dependent.”

Pagbaba ng crude birth rate at pagdami ng ipinapanganak na adolescents

Ang bilang ng ipinapanganak noong taong 2017 ay naiulat na pinakamababa sa loob ng 10 taon ayon sa
PSA na nasa 1,700,618, bumaba ng 1.8% sa crude birth rate noong taong 2016. Ang bilang ng mga
Pilipinong ipinapanganak kada araw ay bumaba sa 4,659 (4,730 noong 2016) o 194 kada oras (nasa halos
tatlo kada minuto).
Ayon pa sa datos ng PSA, tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaba ng “adolescent births” noong taong 2017 mula
201,182 patungong 196,478. Sa kabilang banda, pinunto ni POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio
Perez III ang pagtaas na bilang nang nabubuntis na babae edad kinse anyos pababa.

"Mula taong 2011, nakita natin ang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga kabaataan edad 10 anyos hanggang 14
anyos na nanganganak. Ito ay nagpatuloy hanggang taong 2017 na nagtala ng 2,077 na panganganak sa
nasabing "age bracket". Ibig sabihin, tumaas ng 50% ang mga "very young adolescents (VYA)" na
nanganganak mula taong 2011 (na nagtala ng 1,381 na panganganak). Dahil dito, tinatawagan ko ng
pansin ang mga lokal na pamahalaan para tugunan ang pangkalusugan at panlipunang suliraning ito,"
pahayag ni ED Perez.

Patuloy na pagdami ng senior citizens

Tinukoy ng POPCOM na ang proporsyon ng senior citizens (edad 60 pataas) ay patuloy na tumataas kada
taon. Sa pageestima ng POPCOM, 8.2% ang itataas sa taong 2019 mula 7.5% taong 2015. Ang grupo na
ito ang may pinakamalaking pagtaas ng bilang kumpara sa ibang mga grupo gaya ng kabatan.

“Kailangan nating rebyuhin ang mga polisiya at programa sa populasyon para masiguradong angkop ito
sa pangangailangan ng bawat “age group”. Kailangan din ito para matugunan ang mga kinakaharap na
pagsubok sa nagbabagong “age structure” ng bansa,” pahayag ni ED Perez.

###

DOH, NEDA VOWED SUPPORT TO RENAMING COMMISSION ON POPULATION TO COMMISSION ON

POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The renaming of Commission on Population (POPCOM) to Commission on Population and Development

(CPD) as stated in Executive Order 71 which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 13,
2018 drew support from Secretary Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority
and Secretary Francisco Duque of the Department of Health (DOH). Both Secretaries believe the move
strengthens the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law.

“We will certainly step up the implementation of the RPRH Law, which will benefit all Filipino families,”
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said.

With its return to NEDA and by virtue of Presidential Decree 79, the Commission on Population and
Development was tasked to formulate and adopt policies on population as it relates to economic and
social development. Consistent with the implementation of the population policy, CPD (POPCOM)
should undertake a national program of family planning which respects the religious beliefs and values
of our citizens.

“We support President Duterte’s commitment to assist Filipinos in Family Planning through the
Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law. The Department of Health will continue to work
with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and other agencies toward achieving
our mutual goals.” Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III stated.

“With the decision of the President, POPCOM’s mandate clarified its role in the national family planning
program as an integrator of all government efforts in this area, together with the support of its former
mother agency, DOH, and with the guidance of NEDA.” said POPCOM CPD Executive Director Dr. Juan
Antonio A. Perez III.

“Change is inevitable as it is bound to happen in every organization. But what remains the same is our
commitment to continue what we have started since our agency’s creation almost 50 years ago. We will
take the lead in contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of all Filipino families by
empowering them through responsible parenting, family planning, adolescent health and development,
and population and development integration.” Dr. Perez added.

POPCOM was an attached agency of NEDA from 1991 until 2003 before its supervision was placed under
the Department of Health (DOH) through EO 188 of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

POPCOM NOW COMMISSION ON POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT; TO HANDLE NATIONAL

PROGRAM ON FAMILY PLANNING

President Rodrigo Duterte signed yesterday, December 13, 2018, the Executive Order No. 71 (EO 71)
which reiterates Presidential Decree (PD) No. 79 or the “Revised Population Act of the Philippines”
creating the Commission on Population (POPCOM) as the government agency to undertake a national
program on family planning involving both public and private sectors.

By virtue of PD 79, the said Order tasked the now Commission on Population and Development (CPD) to
formulate and adopt coherent, integrated, and comprehensive long-term plans, programs, and
recommendations on population as it relates to economic and social development consistent with and
implementing the population policy, including undertaking a national program of family planning which
respect the religious beliefs and values of our citizens.

“With the release of EO 71, POPCOM’s mandate has been expanded, and we will continue our role to
implement the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP) including a national family planning
program co-managed with the Department of Health (DOH) and with the key support of local
government units (LGUs) to provide family planning (FP) services to the poorest Filipinos,” said POPCOM
Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio A. Perez III.

The implementation of the PPMP in the country is anchored on the Duterte administration’s 10-point
socio-economic program which aims to strengthen the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood
and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law to enable especially poor couples to make informed choices on
financial and family planning.

The President also signed last 2017 the Executive Oder No. 12 (EO 12) which aims to attain and sustain
zero unmet need for modern family planning. These directives including the EO 71 emphasize the key
role of family planning to achieve poverty reduction and the country’s demographic dividend.

Also, the Order aims to intensify the coordination of CPD with NEDA to strengthen the integration of
population and development to increase the country’s potential economic growth.

The EO 71 directed the renaming of the Commission on Population (POPCOM) as the Commission on
Population and Development (CPD) and reverting its attachment to the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) from the Department of Health (DOH).

“We will still remain POPCOM: CPD (POPCOM),” Dr. Perez said.
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT (POPDEV) INTEGRATION

The need to integrate population concerns in development has long been recognized internationally and
nationally. The 1967 UN Declaration of Population stated that the population problem is a principal
element in long-range national planning. This was seconded by the World Population Conference in
Bucharest in1974 which stated in its World Population Plan of Action that “the essential aim of the
population program is the social, economic and cultural development of countries; it recognizes that
population variables and development are interdependent; and that population policies and objectives
are an integral part (constituent elements) of socioeconomic development policies.”

During the ICPD in 1994, the indisputable interrelationship of population and development (POPDEV)
was given emphasis in its Programme of Action. The ICPD articulated the need to meet the needs of
individuals within the framework of universally recognized human rights standards instead of merely
meeting demographic goals. The adoption of this Programme of Action marks a new phase of
commitment and determination to effectively integrate population issues into socioeconomic
development proposals and to achieve a better quality of life for all individuals, including those of future
generations. Essentially, it promoted the integration of population factors in sustainable development
initiatives. Recognizing the interrelationships between population, sustained economic growth, and
sustainable development is a key element of the integrated strategy.

Recognizing the importance and necessity of integrating population dimensions in development

initiatives and processes, the PPMP will continue to adopt POPDEV integration as its key strategy. This
key program component and strategy essentially seeks to put people – their needs and aspirations – as
the main consideration in developing policy and program interventions. It promotes a mindset that
explicitly recognizes people as the subject and object of development.

As a population management strategy, POPDEV integration is defined as the explicit consideration and
integration of population dynamics and dimensions in the critical steps of any development initiative,
such as plan and program development, policy formulation, database management and utilization, and
other efforts that aim to improve, in a sustainable manner, the development conditions of the people
and the locality in which they live.

The strategy seeks, in the long term, to enable institutions to create an enabling environment for people
to achieve their development goals through a well-managed population. Having a well-managed
population means the achievement of population processes and outcomes that are consistent with,
complementary to, and facilitative of socioeconomic and human development. It is about making a
connection between population factors and development initiatives to ensure integrated and
sustainable development. Explicitly integrating population into economic and development strategies
will both speed up the pace of sustainable development and poverty alleviation and contribute to the
achievement of population objectives and an improved quality of life of the population.

IASC Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings, 2005

Posted Thursday, September 1 2005 - 0:00am by

 
IASC secretariat 

Published Date

September 1, 2005

The Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a tool for field actors in the humanitarian community
to establish a multi-sectoral coordinated approach to gender-based violence in emergency settings. It
provides practical advice on how to ensure that humanitarian assistance and protection programmes for
displaced populations are safe, and do not directly or indirectly increase women’s and girls’ risk to
sexual violence. It also details what response services should be in place to meet the needs of
survivors/victims of sexual violence. 

The guidelines consist of four parts: 

1) Part one introduces gender-based violence interventions in emergencies, the purpose and how to use
the guidelines, and the nature and extent of GBV in humanitarian emergencies

2) Part two presents GBV terms and definitions to clarify meaning of the terms used in this document  

3) Part three provides recommendations and an overview of key GBV interventions for preventing and
responding to sexual violence in emergencies

4) Part four provides action sheets for minimum prevention and response in coordination, assessment
and monitoring, protection, human resources, WASH, food issues, shelter, health, education, and
information 

File(s):