In view of the full devolution of the Family Planning services at the local level, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) XII, in close collaboration with the Department of Health- Center for Health and Development XII, conducted a mapping of available Family Planning (FP) services in the public and selected private health facilities in the region last April to May 2022.
Advocating for the localization of Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Program strategies of POPCOM to the Local Government Units (LGUs), this undertaking aimed to generate information on the availability of modern family planning methods, service providers, equipment/facilities in Levels 1, 2, 3 and public health facilities in SOCCSKSARGEN for demand-generation and service delivery for family planning services.
POPCOM also wanted to assess the capabilities of the LGUs in ensuring that FP commodities are available as part of their devolution transition plans.
According to Ms. Desiree Concepcion Garganian, Acting Regional Director of POPCOM XII, the challenges of the full implementation of devolution should not get in the way of continued family planning services to all women with unmet needs for modern FP and those who need resupply of their current method of choice. “We should always find ways to help women and couples who want to plan their family, at any point in time when they need it”, she added.
Fast tracking the conduct of the mapping, POPCOM XII staff were divided into two teams and interviewed the key staff of local health units involved in Family Planning program. With the assistance of the City and Provincial Population Offices and Health Offices through their Family Planning Coordinators, POPCOM XII staff interviewed the Family Planning Coordinators of the Rural Health Units and other health personnel who provided reliable information asked in the survey questionnaire about Family Planning services.
Supporting the Family Planning and Adolescent Health and Development Health program of the City/Provincial and Municipal Health Offices, POPCOM XII took the opportunity to distribute Social Behavior Change Communication materials such as safe motherhood and FP tarpaulins, FP booklets and delayers poster for FP program and Konektado Tayo posters and SPEAK UP tarpaulins for AHD program. Such materials aim to encourage individuals and couples to access FP services, and for teens to access information and appropriate adolescent health services in the facilities.
Moreover, the data generated from the survey mapping will be analyzed by POPCOM XII and will be utilized for the development of the regional and local interventions to ensure availability of family planning supplies and services in health facilities. POPCOM XII is expected to discuss the result with DOH-CHD XII and program partners on the 3rd quarter of 2022.
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About POPCOM: The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM)is the country’s lead organization in population management for well-planned and empowered Filipino families and communities. POPCOM aims to empower Filipino individuals, families and communities by enabling them to achieve their fertility intentions, prevent adolescent pregnancies, and consciously consider population factors in sustainable development initiatives.
Press Release No.: KMCU PR 22-02
Release Date: May 30, 2022