PRESIDENT Duterte has approved the implementation plan for the National Program on Family Planning, which aims to increase the Filipinos’ use of effective modern contraceptives to prevent 4 million unintended pregnancies and 2 million cases of abortion over the next four years.
Malacanang said on Tuesday that the plan was presented during the Cabinet meeting by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and Executive Director of the Commission on Population and Development Juan Antonio Perez III.
“The approval of the aforesaid plan is expected to reduce poverty incidence in the country, which currently has the highest fertility rate and fastest-growing population in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region, from the current 20 percent to 14 percent in 2022,” Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement.
“Aside from poverty reduction, the plan equally aims to promote better health and socioeconomic development among Filipino,” Panelo added.
He said the “key strategy” under the plan is increasing the usage of effective modern contraceptives where 11.3 million would be given access over the next four years. From 40 percent, the government aims to increase the usage of modern contraceptives to 65 percent.
“We understand that a great majority of Filipinos favor family planning but not all of them have access to contraceptives due to various reasons. Accordingly, the government is here to respond and help those who wish to undergo family planning,” he said.
Malacañang said the President has also approved the proposed executive order for the implementation of the normalization program in the Bangsamoro region.
This annex is said to be an integral part of the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Panelo noted that normalization is a process whereby communities can achieve their desired quality of life, which includes the pursuit of sustainable livelihood and political participation within a peaceful deliberative society.