Volume 3, Issue 2 A Quarterly Publication of the Commission on Population — Region IX April—June 2018

FAMILY PLANNING IS A HUMAN RIGHT

The joins the international community in the ob- fertility rate of women in the Philippines dropped from an average servance of the 2018 World Population Day (WPD) on July 11, 2018. of three children, down to 2.7. However, teenage pregnancy still WPD is celebrated annually across the globe focusing attention on remains high with 9 percent of women age 15-19 having begun the urgency and importance of population matters and issues. For childbearing. PSA data also show that there are more than 200,000 2018 observance, the theme is “Family Planning is a Human Right”. women who are pregnant with 130,000 minors giving birth every year and needing FP and adolescent health services. Here in Peninsula Region, POPCOM Region IX, in collab- oration with the Cities of Dapitan and Zamboanga and other stake- Last year, President Duterte issued Executive Order No. 12 to inten- holders, will conduct “Usapang Batang Ina, Batang Ama”, ”an in- sify and accelerate the implementation of critical actions necessary formation and service provision activity for adolescent teen moth- to attain and sustain “zero unmet need for modern family planning” ers and fathers in Dapitan City and in Barangays , Sta. for all poor households by 2018 and beyond. He also repeatedly Maria, and Tumaga in on July 10 to 13,, respective- articulated in previous State of the Nation Address the full imple- ly. A media forum will also be conducted on July 11, 2018 at 9:00 mentation of the RPRH Law. It can be recalled that the Temporary o’clock in the morning at the Zamboanga Press Club office. Restraining Order on the provision of family planning services was lifted in November 2017 when the FDA certified 51 contraceptives POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio A. Perez III admits, as non-abortifacient as required by the Supreme Court’s decision. “Access to family planning (FP) information and services is a right that everyone is entitled to and we must work together so that no- The Republic Act No. 10354, otherwise known as “The Responsible body will be left behind. Investing in FP is investing in the health Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012” (RPRH Law), is a and rights of women and couples for them to be empowered and landmark legislation that laid the foundation to respect, protect eventually achieve a better quality of life.” said Dr. Perez. and fulfill the reproductive health and rights of all Filipinos toward better health outcomes, and socioeconomic growth and develop- Dr. Perez III also stressed that the government is determined to ment. respect, promote and ultimately fulfill the promise of the Responsi- ble Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) law, that is, to The RPFP caravan will be held simultaneously with similar activities provide universal access to family planning information and ser- across regions in collaboration with local government units. The vices for all women and couples. activities include press conferences, fora, media guesting, film showing, provision of FP services, interactive activities on RH with According to the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey adolescents (U4U) and KATROPA or Kalalakihang Tapat sa Respon- (NDHS) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the sibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya for men among others. ###

SECOND QUARTER PUBLICATION POPCOM-REGION IX

FIRST SCHOOL-BASED TEEN CENTER IN PAGADIAN CITY LAUNCHED!

The first ever School based teen Center in Pagadian City was recently launched and inaugurated. This special event is an important one for Pagadian City - Napolan National High School Teen Center is the first teen center in the divi- sion and in the Province of . Graced by no less than the Schools Division Superintendent Dr Majara- ni M Jacinto, she came in full force bringing along all the important division personnel including the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent. City Mayor Pulmones was invited but did not make it because of his heavy schedule that day being the Pagadian City Day. In his behalf, he sent City Ad- ministrator Lauro Mendoza. All trained U4U peer facilita- tors conducted a Teen Trail for their schoolmates. DepEd IX Pagadian City Schools Division The event has provided POPCOM – Region IX the chance to Superintendent Dr. Majarani Jacinto together let the VIP visitors see how excited the learners were in pro- with POPCOM-Region IX Director Reynaldo O. Wong moting U4U and facilitating U4U with co-learners from the during the launching of Napolan National High same school. With a little explanation, this officer managed School Teen Center in Pagadian City to – engage the support of City Administrator in promoting U4U at the grassroots level in coordination with SK officers; b) enlist the nod of SDS Jacinto in coming up with a division approval of VIPs in attendance to support the further train- memo urging all school heads from elementary to senior ing of peer educators to enable them to cope with the de- high school to hold U4U training and trail; and c. gain the mand of their role in manning the teen center.

SPECIAL RSDC MEETING The Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC), a sub- 13 of the RDP 2017-2022, that of attaining demographic committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) held dividend for the region thru fertility management in con- its Special meeting last June 5, 2018 at the Zamboanga junction with other three equally important gears— Sibugay Provincial Capitol Poolside, Ipil. education, health and livelihood.

The Special RSDC Meeting was an offshoot of the agree- After the lengthy presentation of individual member agency ment reached during the 2nd Quarter Regular RSDC PAPs directly or indirectly impacting employment and liveli- Meeting last 18 May 2018 at LM Hotel. Then it was agreed hood generation for the poor, the RSDC members settled upon that a Special RSDC Meeting be convened on 5th of on the following agreements: a) There is an urgent need to June in order for agencies to harmonize their PAPs focused do a community development study to find out how vari- on livelihood and employment generation for marginalized ous agencies offering livelihood and employment services population. The undersigned was then invited by the host are linked and could harmonize their services to create an agency, DepEd IX, because of the role population manage- impact worthy of replication in other vulnerable and poor ment play in the livelihood and employment sector. Alt- communities. Such communities shall be identified by the hough the special meeting started very late, the members RSDC; b) POPCOM IX, owing to its population management managed to thresh out commonalities and peculiarities in role, shall act as the Secretariat of the TWG to be convened the services they purportedly provide to communities. For very soon; c) All RSDC member agencies shall coordinate his part, the undersigned explained that the role of POP- with DepEd IX their IEC campaign benefitting thousands of COM IX in community development is embodied in Chapter Grades 11 and 12 students.

SECOND QUARTER PUBLICATION

Orientation and Planning-Workshop on the Creation of ISDN and Establishment of SBTCs In order to ensure availability and accessibility of ad- Law, refers to the network of health facilities and olescent and youth-friendly, age-appropriate, and providers within the province- or city-wide health need-based information and services for the health system, offering core packages of health care ser- including sexuality and reproductive-health related vices in an integrated and coordinated manner, Fur- needs of adolescents and youth in the region, POP- thermore it specified that service delivery network COM-Region IX conducted series of orientations on should be established and organized by LGUs in co- the creation of the Information and Service Delivery ordination with DOH to effectively deliver reproduc- Network for Adolescents (ISDN-A). The recipients of tive health care services to priority population. the orientations were Dipolog and Dapitan Cities and the Province of Zamboanga del Norte officials. Invit- After each orientation, the Partnership Agreement ed participants include representatives from social for the creation of the ISDN was flashed and partici- welfare, health, local government operations, aca- pants commented on the content. For the Provincial deme, population, youth, police, and legislative. Sixty LGU, a Memorandum of Understanding was crafted -six participants from the three local government where proposed ISDN member-agencies roles must units attended the activity conducted separately for only be that of supervisory. Full Partnership Agree- each LGU. ment must be between POPCOM-Region IX and the Service Delivery Network, as defined by the Respon- Municipal governments. sible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH)

POPCOM Attended 162nd Regional Development Council Meeting

The Commission on Population GRDP by the Philippine Statis- Region IX attended the 162nd tics Authority; Zamboanga Pen- Regional Development Council insula CY 2017 Regional Devel- (RDC) meeting held last June opment Report by Ms. Susan C. 20, 2018 at Basilan State Col- Valerio, Chief-EDS, NEDA IX; Manual Pre-Tested lege. Twenty four (24) agencies and the highlights of the 2nd out of 47 attended the quarter meetings of the RSDC, meeting. DEVADCOM, and EDCOM. To ensure that POPCOM adheres to In- formed Choice and Voluntarism (ICV) in its RDC Co-chair Jose J. Suan pre- After the meeting, the group Family Planning program by promoting sided over the meeting with visited the Isabela Waste Wa- both Natural and Artificial methods of con- presentations and discussions ter Enhancement for Environ- traception, Commission on Population Cen- on the following: Open Gov- mental Care Treatment Plant in tral Office conducted the pre-testing of the ernment Partnership (OGP) barangay Tabiawan in Isabela Natural Family Planning Manual last June 27 and Participatory Governce City. -28, 2018 in Zamboanga City with the popu- presented by Ms. Odessa Ann lation officers and workers from the Zambo- A. Taguibao, Fiscal Planning Chapter 13 indicators on re- anga City Population Division, and with the and Reforms Bureau of the De- duced Total Fertility Rate (TFR) public health nurses from the ten barangays partment of Budget and Man- and reduced youth unemploy- on the NFP Guide for Service Providers. agement; Philippine Public- ment rate received a thumbs Private Partnership Program down in the score card as re- Ms. Mitos Rivera, the consultant in the for- and the LGU Strategy present- flected in the Zamboanga Pen- mulation of the NFP Manual and Guide, sin- ed by Mr. Eleazar E. Ricote, the insula CY 2017 Regional Devel- gle handedly ran through the pre-testing Deputy Executive Director, PPP opment Report. process in terms of content and presenta- Center; the CY 2017 Economic tion of the printed materials. Performance of the Region ***

POPCOM-REGION IX

1st NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON FAMILY PLANNING The goal of the training is to establish a local migration information system in Pagadian IN THE WORKPLACE HELD City hence it hopes to capacitate Pagadian City Population Office in monitoring and The Employers Confederation of The Philippines tion on matters that have to do with family plan- data banking of internal migrants, provide (ECOP), United Nations Population Fund ning and responsible parenthood; 3. sharing IEC data for policy development responsive to (UNFPA), Department of Labor and Employ- materials and capacity building exercises direct- the effects of internal migration, and to pro- ment (DoLE) and POPCOM joined forces to ly and indirectly to private sector employees by vide basis for socio-economic development conduct the first National Conference on Family Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) s including plan in the locality. Planning in the Workplace held at the Makati POPCOM IX and DOH IX by Third Quarter of Diamond Residences last June 20, 2018. CY 2019. As a pilot area in the establishment of the

LMIS, LGU Pagadian City will conduct full Around 200 Family Planning Program Imple- It was observed and recommended that Private enumeration in 57 barangays this 2018. A -2 menters attended the Conference that saw the companies and their employees have meager day orientation for all enumerators were unification of efforts among privately and public- resources for the procurement of family planning conducted last May 30-31, 2018. Enumera- ly owned organizations to provide a comprehen- commodities but Private companies could bene- tion activities commenced last June, 2018 sive strategy for the direct participation of more fit from PhilHealth by having their clinics accred- and will end July 2018, while Data Encoding private sector companies in family planning ited and their employees registered members. It will begin this August 2018. The migration of through improved information dissemination, was also noted that the education of workers in data to the LMI System will commence also access and services. The conference also as- private sector on STI & HIV-AIDS require atten- this September 2918 until October, while pired to develop business case calling for tion hence these topics may be intertwined with the analysis and interpretation for develop- heightened investments on family planning in family planning for greater awareness and par- workplaces and greater integration of multi- ticipation. ment planning recommendations will come sectoral communication platforms for better **** after all the data are encoded. delivery of family planning services. As a strategy to achieve this goal, POPCOM- POPCOM CONDUCTED Representatives from Region IX who attended Region IX management will conduct advoca- the conference have agreed to make the family TRAINING WORKSHOP ON THE cy activities and courtesy visits to respective planning program sustainable via: 1. training ESTABLISHMENT OF LMIS LGUs to lobby for support in the establish- human resource manpower in family planning, ment of the LMIS, and hopefully ink a Mem- responsible parenthood and counseling teenag- The Commission on Population - Region IX orandum of Agreement with the Local Gov- ers about ways of avoiding risky sexual behavior recently conducted a Training Workshop on ernment of Pagadian. The Policy Analysis to be conducted by ECOP-Zamboanga City the establishment of Local Migration Infor- Development Division (PADD) of POPCOM Chapter by third quarter of CY 2018; 2. formula- mation System (LMIS) for local population Central Office provided technical assistance tion of understanding and agreements between officers/workers and planning development in the conduct of the capacity building ori- and among public organizations and private officers last April- 23 27, 2018 at Hotel entation A baseline data gathering will also industries for sustained and open communica- Guillermo, in Pagadian City. be conducted.

TRAINING IN HANDLING AND RESPONDING TO ASRH REPORTS AND CASES CONDUCTED

POPCOM – Region IX, with DOH IX, WMSU, were oriented with U4U and the Guidelines for and Health conducted the Training in the Establishment of School-Based Teen Cen- Handling and Responding to Adolescent Sexual ters have been provided. A monitoring plan is in and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Reports and order to ensure compliance to agreed upon EDITORIAL STAFF Cases with 85 Guidance Counselors, Guidance deals. designates, and Supreme Student Government CECIL J. ABUY Advisers from Pagadian and Zamboanga del Through the years, POPCOM has been rallying Editor in Chief Sur Divisions of DepEd. for the establishment of teen centers and ISDN- A. Although compliance was and will be there, EDEN L. FULTON Associate Editor The activity was the first of its kind in the region the turn out proved very minimal and misguided. and may be considered as best practice to be This recently-concluded activity equipping the Contributors: replicated in the Provinces of Zamboanga del very personnel in-charge of teen center and RALPH A. RUIVIVAR Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay funded by Min- ISDN-A hub with the appropriate and necessary MARIA ROSALINDA K. FERNANDO danaoHealth in July. This according to Dr. Roy skills will ensure quality compliance more than ROSELYN C. SECUSANA Gavino of MindanaoHealth is a good measure compliance per se. This training shall enable ROGELIO PLAMIANO to make ISDN - Adolescents functional and truly the participants to provide the services required responsive. of them with or without the physical teen center or hub. REYNALDO O. WONG Moderator The participants submitted Action Plan per school and per level for the conduct of U4U and In the upcoming replications of this training, due establishment of Teen Center that will serve as diligence has to be exerted in ensuring that the the ISDN-A hub in the locality. The registration topics build on top of the other, no duplications of the participants as ADEPT-trained individual as this will only bore the participants who al- has been completed. HEEADDSS has been ready knew about them and cause disruptive www.facebook.com/popcomregion9/ cascaded to the participants including the forms behavior. http://rpo9.popcom.gov.ph/ and manual for application. The participants

SECOND QUARTER PUBLICATION POPCOM-REGION IX