29/05/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ-๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐-๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ
On May 28, 2026, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region IX, led by Regional Director EnP. Leticia Dolores II C. Abao, participated in the Regional Dissemination Forum on Key Indicators of the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) organized by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region IX.
The forum presented key findings and policy implications on priority population and health concerns, including child health and development, maternal care, family planning and fertility, domestic violence, and child immunization. The activity served as an important platform for translating updated demographic and health data into responsive and evidence-based policies and programs for Region IX.
As one of the resource speakers, RD Abao highlighted that Region IX is already entering the late stage of demographic transition, where declining fertility levels may create opportunities for a demographic dividendโprovided that strong investments in education, health, employment, and skills development are sustained. She emphasized the importance of promoting a balanced fertility framework anchored on reproductive rights, informed choice, and socioeconomic security.
During the open forum, RD Abao further underscored that family planning (FP) is fundamentally about informed and voluntary choices of couples regarding their fertility intentionsโwhether to have children, delay, space, or limit births. She stressed that the role of both government and the private sector is not only to ensure the availability of FP commodities and improve access to quality reproductive health services, but also to support a โwholistic continuum of careโ approach as part of life planning and responsible parenthood.
She also clarified a common misconception that CPDโs mandate is solely focused on controlling or limiting population size, which may influence how some sectors perceive population targets and projections in education and other social services. RD Abao explained that while earlier population programs during the 1960s under the former POPCOM primarily addressed rapid population growth, the countryโs population program has significantly evolved over the decades toward a rights-based, voluntarism, and informed-choice approach. This shift places primary importance on creating an enabling environment that strengthens reproductive agency and empowers individuals and couples to make free and informed decisions.
On adolescent health concerns, RD Abao emphasized that Region IX continues to record the highest adolescent birth rate in the country at 9.3 percent among girls aged 15 to 19. She noted that this remains closely linked to persistent poverty challenges in the region, reinforcing that adolescent pregnancy is not only a health issue but also a broader population and development concern tied to inequality, limited opportunities, and social vulnerability.
To address these challenges, RD Abao presented the FOCUS Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) Framework 2026โ2028, a regional multisectoral framework anchored on five strategic pillars: comprehensive reproductive health education and life skills development; adolescent-friendly health and social services; social protection and economic support; safe and supportive environments; and strengthened data-driven governance. She likewise highlighted the Regional Development Council (RDC)-backed three-year development agenda aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy and improving overall adolescent health and development outcomes in Region IX.
She emphasized that addressing adolescent pregnancy and related population and development concerns requires convergence through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, development partners, families, and communities.
Resource speakers from the Department of Health Region IX and Zamboanga City Medical Center also shared insights and updates on improving maternal care, expanding immunization coverage, and strengthening child health and development interventions based on the NDHS findings.
The forum reinforced the importance of data-driven governance, inter-agency collaboration, and evidence-based planning in addressing emerging population and development challenges and advancing the overall health and well-being of communities in Region IX.
