PPD Poa Report

The development of this document was through the support of the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Philippine Country Office.

PHILIPPINE
POPULATION AND
DEVELOPMENT
PLAN OF ACTION
2023-2028
4
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
I convey my warmest support to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
as it publishes the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-POA) 2023-2028.
Coming from a global health crisis, the Philippines has now arrived at a critical juncture where
we must harness the potential of our growing population to propel our nation towards greater
recovery and economic progress. The PPD-POA thus serves as a strategic roadmap that addresses the
multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by our demographic landscape.
I acknowledge the NEDA for its dedication to formulating this plan, which is a product of
extensive research, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the social and economic needs of our
country. Indeed, a comprehensive investigation of our demographic trends will enable us to make
informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and tailor policies that address the specific needs
of our people in the long run.
May this plan equip us with the knowedge and foresight to implement targeted strategies that
will enhance the quality of life of every Filipino and promote sustainable growth. Together, let us work
hard to attain a better future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and achieve his or
her own aspirations.
I wish you the best in your endeavors.
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

President
Republic of the Philippines
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MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY
The Filipino people will drive our nation’s journey of progress and development. Given the
current state of our demographic landscape, the Philippines has many reasons to find itself optimistic
about its future. We expect our young and growing workforce to provide the Philippine economy an
additional growth driver in the coming years as we embark on our journey of deepening social and
economic transformation in the country, in line with the socioeconomic agenda set by President
Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
As our economy undergoes a demographic transition—with our working-age population growing

faster than our total population—we must ensure that our people obtain and develop sufficient human
capital and are well-equipped with the tools that will enable them to raise their productivity, and
innovate, seize the many opportunities made available by new technologies, and compete globally.
Toward this end, the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-POA) for 2023-
2028 shall serve as the country’s roadmap for optimizing demographic opportunities and addressing
persistent issues and challenges with respect to the Philippines’ population profile. Aligned with the
strategies contained in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the PPD-POA shall accelerate the
attainment of our medium-term goals and targets.
Additionally, as local government units assume greater responsibility over the development
and well-being of their constituents under the full devolution framework, the PPD-POA shall be
instrumental in guiding collaborative efforts towards instituting people-centered interventions to
foster local development.
The Plan sets a collective agenda towards empowering individuals, families, and institutions in
achieving their development and societal goals.
Overall, the realization of the objectives of the PPD-POA entails a whole-of-government effort.
The Commission on Population and Development shall be instrumental in leading and monitoring
the implementation of the population and development strategies laid out in this Plan, as we seek
to tap the full potential of our human resources and collectively aim for a matatag, maginhawa, at
panatag na buhay para sa lahat.
Arsenio M. Balisacan, Ph.D.

Secretary, National Economic and Development Authority
Chairperson, Commission on Population and Development
Board of Commissioners
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PREFACE
Our country’s demographic landscape has reached a critical milestone in our history. From a
high fertility level in the 1970’s, the period in which the national population policy was instituted,
Filipino women and men now have greater capacity to achieve their fertility intentions as indicated
by lower fertility level. More than its demographic impact, the current population situation offers
opportunity for the country to pursue more effectively and rapidly the socioeconomic development
agenda.
Within this thrust, this Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-POA)
for 2023-2028 is critical in laying the foundation of a more accelerated process in achieving the
development agenda set in the Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028. Overall, the PPD-POA
provides a roadmap for coordinated and organized efforts to optimize demographic opportunities
and to address the persistent population issues at all levels to support the development agenda of
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The increasingly uneven distribution of population across regions, rapid urbanization due to
unmanaged influx of migrants and still high fertility level among women who are poor and with lower
level of educational status, among others, remain as population issues that need to be addressed
through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
Further, the PPD-POA underscores the critical role of the local government units (LGUs) in
pursuing local development through integrated population and development strategies within the
context of full devolution.
May this PPD-POA set the platform for collaboration and partnership between and among
national and regional government agencies, local government units, private sectors and civil society
organizations in pursuing collective effort to promote a “Planado, Matatag at Maginhawang Pamilyang
Pilipino.”
Lisa Grace S. Bersales, Ph.D.

Undersecretary and Executive Director V
Commission on Population and Development
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OVERVIEW
The Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action 2023-

2028 (hereinafter referred to as PPD-POA) serves as the government’s
overall blueprint in managing the country’s demographic situations and
addressing interrelated population and development issues in support of
the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
PPD-POA highlights the significant shift of the country’s population

and development agenda from human numbers to human lives that is
geared towards the attainment of the AmBisyon Natin 2040 wherein all
Filipinos enjoy deeply rooted, comfortable and secure lives (matatag,
maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat).
OVERVIEW
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has
spearheaded the PPD-POA’s preparation and formulation in collaboration
with other national government agencies, civil society organizations,
private sector organizations and development partners. As such, this Plan
serves as a collective roadmap for all stakeholders in creating an enabling
environment for Filipino families and communities to achieve their
development goals and aspirations.
PPD-POA is the overall Plan of Action for the individuals, families

and communities to live securely as a result of their ability and capability
to successfully achieve their aspirations and well-being. The Plan aims
to enhance their capacities and freedom to improve and pursue a better
quality of life - to be able to live a healthy life, secured with the opportunities
and services provided not only by the government, but also by various
private institutions.
Within this context, the PPD-POA lays down the strategic goals
and actions that the entire nation will collectively pursue to contribute
in enabling and empowering Filipino families and communities to have
a better quality of life based on their aspirations. It is a document that
operationalizes a human development framework optimizing the available
demographic opportunities and addressing persistent population issues
at all levels. Demographic opportunities such as increasing working age
population and declining age dependency because of greater capabilities
among couples and women to achieve their desired fertility, among others,
can accelerate the attainment of the country’s development goals and
objectives as specifically laid out in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-
2028. This requires that proper appropriate and integrated population and
development policies, programs and strategies are set in place and guided
by progressive principles.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Memorandum Circular No. 40 ii

Message from the President iv
Message from the Secretary v
Preface vi
Overview viii
Table of Contents x
List of Tables xiii
List of Figures xiii
Definition of Terms xiv
List of Acronyms xvi
Part I: Introduction 2
Chapter 1 | Our Roadmap for Empowering Filipino
Families and Communities 4
6
Putting People at the Heart of Development
7
The Population Situation
16
The Population Challenges
Population and Development (POPDEV) Nexus 25
Empowering the Population 27
Chapter 2 | Our Strategic Framework 30
Our Guiding Principles 31

PPD-POA and the Philippine Development Plan 32
PPD-POA and the Attainment of the ICPD
and SDGs 34
Our Goal 35
Our Objectives 36
Part II: Our Plan of Action 40

Chapter 3 | Promote Responsible Parenthood and
Family Planning 44
45
Specific Actions
Chapter 4 | Advance Adolescent Health and
Development (AHD) 54
Specific Actions 55
Chapter 5 | Support Labor Force Empowerment and

Active and Healthy Ageing 60
Specific Actions 61
Chapter 6 | Integrate Population Agenda in Sectoral

Development 64
Specific Actions 65
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Chapter 7 | Accelerate Inclusive Development among 68
Marginalized Sectors of the Population 69
Specific Actions
Chapter 8 | Strengthen People-Centered Regional and 72

Local Development
73
Specific Actions
Chapter 9 | Foster International Partnership and 75

Collaboration on POPDEV
76
Specific Actions
Chapter 10 | Intensify POPDEV Research and Knowledge 78

Management System
79
Specific Actions
Part III: Enabling Environment 82

Chapter 11 | Improve Policy Environment for
Population and Development 83
Specific Actions 84
Chapter 12 | Strengthen Good Governance and

Leadership Mechanisms for POPDEV 85
Specific Actions 86
Chapter 13 | Establish data, information and knowledge

for evidence-based decision making for population and
development governance 87
Population and Development (POPDEV) Research

Agenda, 2023-2028 88
Chapter 14 | Establish Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation

and Learning Mechanisms 89
Specific Actions 90
Result Matrix 91
References 94
Appendices 100
Appendix A. Total Population, Urban Population, and
Percent Urban by Region, Philippines, 2020 and 2015 101
Appendix B. Barangays with Negative Population Growth
Rate, by Region 102
Appendix C. Percentage Distribution of Currently Married
Women Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern 103
Family Planning Methods by Background Characteristics,
2017 and 2022
xi
Appendix D. Current Use of Family Planning Methods by
Region, 2017 and 2022 104
Appendix E. Number of Adolescent Mothers and Registered
Adolescent Births by Birth Order, 2016-2021 104
Appendix F. Integrate Poverty Incidence among Families, by
Region 105
Acknowledgements 106
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Labor Force Participation Rate by Sex,

2020-2022 13
Table 2. Population Growth Rate (PGR) by Region,
2000, 2010, 2015 and 2020 17
Table 3. Gross Regional Domestic Product, Annual,
2020-2022 (in percentage) 19
Table 4. Total and age-specific fertility rates by age
group, 1993-2022 19
Table 5. Actual and wanted fertility by background
education and income level, 2022 20
Table 6. Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate and
Unmet Need for Family Planning by
Background Characteristics, 2017, 2022 23
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Population size and growth rate from

various population censuses 7
Figure 2. Trends in the total fertility rate, 1973 to 2022 8
Figure 3. Percentage share of various age groups to
the total population: Philippines (1970-1920) 9
Figure 4. Life Expectancy at Birth, total (years) 10
Figure 5. Trends in early childhood mortality rates
(deaths per 100,000 live births 11
Figure 6. Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000
live births) 11
Figure 7. Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births) 12
Figure 8. Prevalence of Stunting, Height for Age
(percent of children under 5) 13
Figure 9. Inter-regional period migration stream 14
Figure 10. Stock estimates of overseas Filipinos
(world total): 2000-2022 15
Figure 11. Fertility Rate by Region, 2013, 2017, 2022 18
Figure 12. Percent distribution of currently married
women by contraceptive method used,
2022 21
Figure 13. Percent distribution of married women by
modern contraceptive method used,
by region, 2022 24
Figure 14. Strategic Framework 36
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DEFINITION OF TERMS
Adolescents - pertains to the segment of population who are 10-19 years old. (WHO)
Age Specific Fertility Rate - refers to the number of births to women of a given age group per 1,000
women in that age group. It is calculated by dividing the number of births to women of a particular
age group by the female population in that age group multiplied by 1,000. (PSA)
Children - pertains to the segment of population who are 0-17 years old. (CWC)
Demographic Dividend - the economic growth experienced by a country as a result of the change
in the country’s population structure. It is the product of the demographic transition, which is
characterized by markedly declining mortality and fertility rates, resulting in the shrinking of the
dependent age (0-14) group and expanding of the workforce (ages 15-64).
Demographic Transition - pertains to the transition from a rough equilibrium of high fertility and
high mortality, through a period of rapid growth when declining mortality coexists with continuing
high fertility, to an ultimate equilibrium of low fertility and low mortality. Demographic transition
directly influences the age structure of the population.
The demographic transition has three phases. The first phase of the demographic transition is triggered
by an initial decline in infant mortality (death rate) but fertility (birth rate) remains high, resulting in
the swelling of the youth dependency group.
The second phase is when the proportion of the working-age population (defined as those aged 15
to 64) is larger relative to the young dependents (0 to 14 years) and the older population (65 years
and above). This is the phase when the number of productive working age population is the highest.
(Refer to the NEDA Explainer: Reaping Demographic Dividend https://neda.gov.ph/neda-explainer-
reaping-demographic-dividend/ )
The third and last phase of the transition is when the older cohort (those aged 65 years and above)
swells relative to the total population. The growing ageing population during the third phase of the
demographic transition can create a slowdown in the country’s economic growth as the number of
consumers (the older population) grows faster compared to productive workers. (Refer to Mapa, D.
Demographic Sweet Spot and Dividend in the Philippines: The Window of Opportunity is Closing
Fast, Quezon City, 2015)
Intergenerational Poverty - sometimes referred to as the “Cycle of Poverty”, intergenerational poverty

(IGP) is described as poverty that persists from one generation to the next.
Migration - a form of spatial or geographic mobility of people involving a change of usual place
of residence between clearly defined geographic or political units (such as regions, province and
city/municipality for internal migration and country and other political/geographic territory for
international migration) during a specified period of observation for a reason such as economic,
social, political and cultural. (PSA Board Resolution No. 08 series of 2017)
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Population Momentum - occurs when a country’s fertility rate declines to or below replacement
level (2.1 children per woman), yet the population size continues to grow due to the age structure of
the population.
Replacement Fertility Level - the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from
one generation to the next.
Reproductive Health - pertains to the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all
matters related to the reproductive system which implies that people are able to have a satisfying and
safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and
how often to do so. (ICPD, Programme of Action)
Unmet need for Family Planning - Women with unmet need for family planning are those who are
fecund and sexually active, and do not want any more children or want to delay the next child but are
not using any method of contraception. (PSA)
Urban Barangay - A barangay is classified as urban if it meets any of the following: (1) has a population
size of 5,000 or more; or (2) has at least one establishment with a minimum of 100 employees; or (3)
has five or more establishments with 10 to 99 employees, and five or more facilities within the two-
kilometer radius from the barangay hall. (PSA Board Resolution No. 01 Series of 2017-098)
Urban Sprawl - pertains to the urbanization of areas around the main urban centers as evidenced by
the high population growth rate.
Vital or Civil Registration - Vital or Civil Registration is the recording in the appropriate civil registers,
vital acts and events that affect the civil status of individuals.
Vital Acts or Events - Vital acts and events are the births, deaths, fetal deaths, marriages, and all such
events that have something to do with an individual’s entrance and departure from life together with
the changes in civil status that may occur to a person during his lifetime.
Vital Statistics - are statistics referring to births, deaths and marriages.
Youth - refers to those persons whose ages range from fifteen (15) to thirty (30) years old. (NYC, RA
8044)
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xv THE PHILIPPINE POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF ACTION | 2023-2028
LIST OF ACRONYMS
4Ps Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
AHD Adolescent Health and Development
ALS Alternative Learning System
APIS Annual Poverty Indicator Survey
ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations
ASFR Age-specific Fertility Rate
ASRH Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
AVPs Audio-Visual Presentations
BARMM Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
CALABARZON Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon
CAR Cordillera Administrative Region
CBMS Community-based Monitoring System
CHR Commission on Human Rights
CPD Commission on Population and Development
CPH Census of Population and Housing
CPR Contraceptive Prevalence Rate
CRVS Civil Registration and Vital Statistics
CSE Comprehensive Sexuality Education
CSOs Civil Society Organizations
CWC Council for the Welfare of Children
DepEd Department of Education
DOH Department of Health
DOST Department of Science and Technology
DOST-FNRI DOST – Food and Nutrition Research Institute
DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development
EO Executive Order
FDS Family Development Session
THE PHILIPPINE POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF ACTION | 2023-2028

xvi
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FP Family Planning
GIDA Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas
GNI Gross National Income
HMCCC Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change
ICF International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
ICPD International Conference on Population and Development
LFPR Labor Force Participation Rate
LGUs Local Government Units
LYDCs Local Youth Development Councils
mCPR Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate
NAT National Achievement Test
NCR National Capital Region
NEDA National Economic and Development Authority
NDHS National Demographic and Health Survey
NMS National Migration Survey
NSV Non-scalpel Vasectomy
OFWs Overseas Filipino Workers
OSCY Out-of-school Children and Youth
PD Presidential Decree
PDP Philippine Development Plan
PISA Programme for International Student Assessment
PME Participatory monitoring and evaluation
PMOC Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling
PPD-POA Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action
PPDP Philippine Population and Development Program
PSA Philippine Statistics Authority
POPDEV Population and Development
PSSC Philippine Social Science Council
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20 THE PHILIPPINE POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF ACTION | 2023-2028
PWD Persons with Disabilities
RA Republic Act
RDP Regional Development Plan
RGDP Regional Gross Domestic Product
RPFP Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning
RPRH Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health
SDG Sustainable Development Goals
SCM Supply Chain Management
SKs Sangguniang Kabataan
TFR Total Fertility Rate
UHC Universal Health Care
UN United Nations
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
UPPI University of the Philippines Population Institute
VAW Violence against Women
VAWC Violence against Women and Children
YAFSS Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study
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PART I:
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 OUR ROADMAP FOR EMPOWERING
FILIPINO FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
To empower individuals, families and communities,
there has to be a human development framework that
puts people at the heart of development. But the road to
achieving people empowerment is fraught with thorns, albeit,
interspersed with modest gains that need to be sustained.
This section presents the population situation that

contextualizes the foundation of the PPD-POA. It takes
cognizance not only of the successes achieved by the
government in managing the population through the years,
but more so, the persistent problems that plague the full
achievement of a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay
para sa lahat.

4
PUTTING PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF DEVELOPMENT
People are the most important and critical been even. The differential population growth
factor in any country’s development. They are rates across geographic locations may be partly
the subjects, the core objectives as well as the the result of disparities in the availability, quality
drivers of development. As empowered beings, and affordability of health systems and services
they possess the capacity to formulate opinions and spatial opportunities for socioeconomic
and negotiate terms in improving their quality of development and education. Better economic
life and achieving their aspirations. This capacity opportunities in urban areas have likewise
to achieve a better life, however, requires an triggered the influx of migrants resulting in
enabling policy and a conducive program increased urbanization and decline in labor force
environment that can facilitate their freedom- in areas of origin. From a broader perspective,
to-choose, consistent with their fundamental the widening demographic and socioeconomic
human rights. disparities among regions are key challenges for
the country in its efforts to reach and optimize the
The Philippine demographics, particularly demographic dividend and balanced geographic
its population size, have been evolving at a distribution of the population.
seemingly slow pace, from a three-percent annual
growth rate in the 1970’s that was the highest not Recognizing the impact of population
only in Southeast Asia, but the rest of the world factors in development, the CPD has formulated
then. But now, the country’s population is only appropriate population management policies
growing at a pace of 1.6% annually. With more and strategies in facilitating sustainable and
than 109 million people, however, the country still inclusive development at all levels. Unfortunately,
occupies the 13th place in the world’s population the country’s policy and program support as well
size (UNDESA, 2022). as investments in the population management
program have been marked with inconsistencies
The slowing down of the population growth mainly due to the political environment.
rate in the country is largely due to decline in
fertility. From six children in the 1970s, the In today’s demographic and socioeconomic
total fertility rate (TFR) substantially decreased context, addressing population issues related to
to 1.9 children in 2022, which is already below health, education, employment, environment,
replacement fertility. With the decline in fertility, food and nutrition, and other sectors is critical
the population is maturing leading to a shift in the in attaining desired developmental outcomes.
age structure. The share of the young segment After all, the people are at the core of these
population has declined; the proportion of the development concerns.
working age population has increased, and
the older segment of the population has also Moreover, the emerging population
gradually increased. This provides the prospect dynamics in the country now calls for all
for increased productivity and economic interventions to focus more on “human
growth through increased income, savings and lives” rather than simply “human numbers” -
investments among the labor force if enabling underscoring efforts to improve people’s lives
policy and program interventions are put in place. and increase respect for their human rights,
including reproductive health rights. This shift
While the country has witnessed a emphasizes the integral and mutually reinforcing
significant fertility decline over the last decade, linkages between population and development
the geographic distribution of the population that is centered on empowerment of women,
as well as region-specific fertility rates have not men and families as a highly important end in

6
themselves and key to improving the quality of
life for everyone.
THE POPULATION SITUATION
There have been several progresses made decade. However, further acceleration is needed
towards achieving Philippine Population and to address the country’s population challenges,
Development Program (PPDP) 2017-2022, such such as unequal population distribution, unmet
as the slowdown in population growth, decline need for modern family planning especially
in fertility, increasing lifespan, continuing among the poor, which is dragging demographic
mobility of Filipinos and the rise of transnational transition, changing age structure, and regional
families. In some cases, the pace of progress even disparity and its impact on socioeconomic
accelerated over rates seen during the previous development. These are explained below.
Figure 1. Population size and growth rate from various population censuses
Source: PSA, various Population censuses

Population growth is steadily slowing total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.9 from 2.7 in 2017. The
down. The 2020 Census of Population and TFR has been on a decline since the 1980s, albeit,
Housing (CPH) recorded about 109 million at a slower pace than what was experienced by
Filipinos, almost nine (9) million more compared most neighboring countries in East and Southeast
to the population recorded in 2015. The Asia (Costello and Casterline, n.d.).
population increased at a rate of 1.6 from 2015-
2020 which is slower than the 1.7 annual growth These trends nevertheless have resulted in
rate between 2010–2015. Generally, as shown in a change in age structure of the population. The
Figure 1, the population growth rate has slowed proportion of children under five years old has
down since the 1970’s. declined, although there will still be many school-
aged children in the next 15 years. The working age
While this is considered a positive gain, population (15-64) is expected to increase along
the Philippines, however, is ranked 13th as the with the older population 65 and over. In 2010,
most populous around the world (UNDESA). It is the proportion of 65 years old and over reached
also the second most populous country among 4.3%. This increased to 5.4% in 2020.
members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN). Moreover, it is observed that The increase in the number of the working
socioeconomic and regional disparities exist age population is the outcome of a long period
even if the population growth has dwindled. of population growth. A demographic bonus or
dividend is expected to occur once population
Filipino women have fewer children growth starts to slow down. The maximum
compared to past generations. The 2022 National utilization of these human resources provides a
Demographic and Health Survey showed a rapid potential for higher productivity and contributes
decline in fertility, reaching replacement level to economic growth.
Figure 2. Trends in the total fertility rate, 1973 to 2022
Source: PSA, Various NDHS

8
Figure 3. Percentage share of various age groups to the
total population: Philippines (1970-1920)
Sources: Various population censuses: 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010, 2015 and 2020
Better educated population to reap Math in the 2019 Southeast Asia Primary Learning
demographic dividend. The realization of a Metrics (Tadalan, 2021).
demographic dividend is hinged on a population
that is educated and is able to make decisions Several educational reforms have been
and take actions on improving the quality of their enacted including the Kindergarten Education
lives, such as having gainful employment, healthy Act, the Early Years Act and the Enhanced Basic
environment and access to social services. A Education Act that extends compulsory schooling
study conducted by Orbeta and Paqueo (2022) to Grades 11 and 12. Enrollment in senior high
showed that in terms of school attendance, (Grade 11) started in School Year 2016-17, and
the Philippines performs at the same level as two years after, the first K-12 equipped students
other more developed countries. Data from the entered higher education (Geronimo, 2016).
Department of Education shows a high level
Results of the Young Adult Fertility and
of school enrollment in basic education (from
Sexuality Study conducted in 2021 showed that
kindergarten to senior high, including alternative
48% of Filipino youth (15-24) were either enrolled
learning system (ALS). In SY 2016-2017, an
in senior high school or had completed senior
estimated 94% of the school-going age population
high school and majority took the academic track
in 2015 were enrolled in basic education and ALS. (68%) compared to 31% under the Technology
However, despite these promising trends, the and Livelihood Education/Technical Vocational
Philippines still lags behind in terms of achieving Livelihood track. Only a very small percentage
quality education for all. In the OECD’s Program for were in the arts and design and sports tracks
International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, (Laguna and Afable, forthcoming). Among Filipino
the Philippines ranked lowest out of 79 countries. youth who did not finish college yet, 15% were not
Filipino students posted lower mean averages in able to enroll in the school year 2020-21. More
Reading, Science and Mathematics. Among five than half of them said they do not intend to return
other Southeast Asian countries, Filipino Grade 5 to school. This sentiment is higher among males,
students lagged behind in Reading, Writing and older youth (20-24), living in rural areas and those

from the poorest socioeconomic status. The lack longer than their 1990’s expected lifespan. This,
of funds (32%) and the need to help the family however, is the lowest life expectancy at birth
economically (13%) were the main reasons why compared to other ASEAN countries, particularly
students did not continue with their education. Thailand (77.3), Malaysia (76.3), Vietnam (75.5)
and Indonesia (71.9). However, a high number
Moreover, 2 in 3 college graduates were of excess deaths was recorded during the
working at the time of the survey. Slightly more COVID-19 pandemic that could push back the
male youth who are college graduates are gains in life expectancy as experienced by most
employed compared to female college graduates countries in the world.
(71% vs. 64%). College graduates from lower
socioeconomic status also had lower rates of There have also been improvements in
employment.
the Filipinos’ other health outcomes. Maternal
mortality ratio decreased from 144 maternal
Healthier and resilient population where deaths in 2010 to 121 in 2017, under-5 mortality
Filipinos are living longer. The majority of was down to 26 deaths per 1000 in 2022
Filipinos’ overall health condition has improved compared to 40 per 1000 in 2003. After a steady
over the years as indicated by a declining decline in neonatal mortality rate from 1993
mortality rate and an increasing lifespan. The to 2013, it rose slightly, from 13 in 2013 to 15 in
2020 Philippine Human Development Report 2022. Similarly, the results of the 2022 NDHS
(HDR) shows that the Filipinos’ life expectancy also showed a slight increase in infant mortality
at birth has improved significantly, registering from 21 in 2017 to 22 in 2022 (PSA and ICF, 2023).
71.4 years in 2020, which is about five (5) years
Figure 4. Life Expectancy at Birth, total (years)
Source: Singh-Vergeire, M.S., Powerpoint Presentation on UHC through Primary Care Priority
Strategic Interventions

10
Figure 5. Trends in early childhood mortality rates
(deaths per 100,000 live births in the 5-year period before the survey)
Source: PSA, various NDHS
Figure 6. Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000 live births)
Source: Singh-Vergeire, M.S., Powerpoint Presentation on UHC through Primary Care Priority Strategic Interventions

Figure 7. Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births)

12
Despite these improvements, the Philippines lags behind other countries in the region in terms
of health indicators. For instance, about a third of the under-five (5) population are stunted, a trend
that has persisted for years.
Figure 8. Prevalence of Stunting, Height for Age (% of children under 5)
Increasing labor force participation This is on account of societal expectations

among women. While progress has been where women are primarily expected to do
made over the years in promoting gender domestic responsibilities, such as taking care of
equality in employment particularly indicated children and household tasks. These traditional
by increasing labor force participation among gender roles stifle women’s opportunities for
women, significant disparities between sexes education, career development, and labor force
still persist. As shown in the table below, the participation. The unemployment rate of women
labor force participation of the males from is slightly higher than men (8.2 vs. 7.5) (PSA 2023,
2020 to 2022 is higher compared to the female. Factsheet on Women and Men).
Table 1. Labor Force Participation Rate by Sex, 2020-2022
Year Both Sexes Male Female
2020* 58.8 72.5 45.0
2021 61.5 74.0 48.9
2022 63.3 74.8 51.7
Source: PSA Labor Force Survey, 2020-2022

*average of April, July, Oct 2020 were computed

Filipinos Continue to Be Mobile. Population than long-distance movement.
movement, or migration, both internal and
international has been an important demographic As can be seen from the Figure 9 below,
process among Filipinos. Geographic movement the seven largest intra-regional migration flows
of people has contributed to urbanization and in the last 5 years, involving at least 250,000
local socioeconomic development, especially of persons each, are in CALABARZON, Central
cities. According to the 2018 National Migration Visayas, Bicol, Western Visayas, NCR, Davao, and
Survey (NMS) (PSA and UPPI, 2019) about 40% of Eastern Visayas.
Filipinos were lifetime migrants, which means
that their current residence is different from For internal migration that involved
their place of birth. Moreover, within the past crossing regional boundaries, the five regions
five years before the 2018 NMS, about 15% of with the largest number of out-migrants are
Filipinos had migrated or changed residence. NCR, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Bicol, and
Most of the migrants (84%) had moved internally, Northern Mindanao while the regions with
or within the country, and the rest (about 14%) the largest number of in-migrants are NCR,
had crossed international borders. More (67%) CALABARZON, Eastern Visayas, Bicol, and
internal migrants had moved within the region Davao. (PSA and UPPI, 2019) CALABARZON is
compared to those who had crossed regional the most preferred area of destination and the
boundaries (33%). This is indicative of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as the
preference for short-distance migration rather least preferred destination.
Figure 9. Inter-regional period migration stream
Source: PSA and UPPI, 2019, 2018 NMS

14
Figure 10. Stock estimates1 of overseas Filipinos (world total): 2000-2022
Source: CFO, DFA
Urban Sprawl. The country’s urban infrastructure and basic social and economic
population has increased by 7.2 million. Such services, on the other. Metropolitan areas in the
a trend in urbanization is characterized by the country now face serious urbanization-related
phenomenon of “urban sprawl”, which pertains problems, such as, but not limited to, inadequacy
to the urbanization of areas around the main of social services; proliferation of slum dwellers;
urban centers. For example, the urban primacy of traffic congestion; shortages in water supply;
Metro Manila gradually declines as other urban inadequate sewerage system; unmanaged
areas emerge. Except for NCR, which is classified garbage and other related conditions.
as entirely urban, other regions displayed high
level of urbanization in the past years: Region Rise of the Filipino Transnational Families.
IV-A - CALABARZON (70.5%); Region XI - Davao More and more Filipinos are now crossing
(66.8%), Region III - Central Luzon (66.3%) and international borders in search of better
Region XII - SOCCSKSARGEN (55.5%). In fact, opportunities. International labor migration
each has posted a higher level of urbanization has become a multi-faceted phenomenon that
than the national level (54.0%) has both negatively and positively affected the
. social and economic conditions of households
On the other hand, areas with very low and in the country. According to PSA Survey of
levels of urbanization are the following: Region Overseas Filipino Workers of 2020, the estimated
VIII - Eastern Visayas (14.7%); Region II - Cagayan number of Filipinos working and living abroad
Valley (19.5%); Region V - Bicol (23.8%), Region I - temporarily or permanently, including the
Ilocos (25.5%) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous undocumented, had reached 10 million. Since
Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM 2000, there has been an increasing trend in the
(27.6%). See “Appendix A. Total Population, number of Filipinos going abroad. Close to half
Urban Population and Percent Urban by Region, of registered Filipinos abroad are temporary
Philippines, 2020 and 2015” labor migrants who usually intend to return to
the country (Figure 10).
Unfortunately, however, unregulated
urbanization has resulted in a serious mismatch Based on the 2021 Survey on Overseas
between population, on one hand, and physical Filipino Workers, most Filipino overseas workers
1
Estimation based on compilation by the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) with inputs from the DFA, POEA, and other sources covering almost 200 countries or
territories (adopted from 2008 SPPRHA, UNFPA)

were women, accounting for 60.2% or 1.10 THE POPULATION CHALLENGES
million. On the other hand, 39.8% or 0.73 million
were male OFWs. The same trend was observed The discussion above signifies that people
in 2020 where 59.6% or 1.06 million OFWs were (individuals, families, and communities) are the
women, while 40.4% were men. This pattern of motivations behind any development effort,
growing number of females migrating within which this PPD-POA adheres to. It shows the
and across the regions globally is referred to as evolving contexts of the population situation that
the “feminization of migration”. This has become have an impact on development. There have been
a distinctive feature of the migratory patterns advances in managing the population as reflected
in the Western Pacific Region (UN ESCAP Asia- in the slowing down of population growth and
Pacific Migration Report 2020). fertility, improved health among Filipinos, and
freedom of mobility of individuals within and
By age group, the highest number of outside the country.
Overseas Filipino Workers in 2021 were in the age
group 30 to 34 years (23.2%), followed by 45 years But these successes are not enough to
and over (23.1%), and 35-39 years (19.9%). Most significantly impact the development of the
male overseas workers belong to the age group country. If one zooms in on the statistics of these
45 years and over, while most women overseas gains, there are major challenges that need to be
workers belong to the age group 30 to 34 years. addressed. These challenges are discussed below.
The feminization of migration has both Poor health, nutritional and educational
positive and negative impacts on women migrants conditions of children. Stunting, particularly for
and the families they leave behind. As early as under-5 children, is a persistent problem in the
2006, the State of World Population Report country. The 2021 Expanded National Nutrition
2006 noted that the increasing feminization of Survey (ENNS) by the Department of Science
international migration has opened doors to a and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research
new world of greater equality for women, and Institute (DOST-FNRI) also noted that substantial
relief from oppression and discrimination that proportion of school-age children (5-10 years
limit women’s freedom and stunt their potential. old) who are underweight (20%) and wasted, or
International migration, to some extent, has too thin for their age (7%). At the same time, 14%
vested women with greater freedom to choose of these children were reported to be overweight.
with greater economic and negotiating power, as Only one in every 10 or 13.3% of children 6-23
well as improved self-confidence. months old met the minimum acceptable diet
(MAD), indicating poor quality and quantity of
Female migrant workers usually work in complementary foods.
domestic, hospitality, health care, labour-intensive
garment manufacturing and entertainment Education wise, there remain key
sectors, and they may experience poor working challenges to quality education among children
conditions, poor remuneration, lack of legal in the Philippines. The World Bank and
protection and poor access to health services, UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS) report
exacerbating their vulnerability to poor health, in 2022 highlighted that 9 out of 10 ten-year
gender-specific discrimination, exploitation, old Filipino students are unable to read and
and abuse. It is important to note, nevertheless, understand a short age-appropriate text.
that international migration affects both women Learning deprivation is also high - 90% of Filipino
and men migrants who have to suffer the social children at the end of primary school did not
costs of leaving their families back home, which reach the minimum proficiency level in reading
often lead to marital and parental conflicts and in 2019 based on a large-scale assessment of
shattered homes in extreme cases. students. The proportion of learners achieving
16
at least “Proficient” level in the 2018 National regions of Region IV-A, National Capital Region
Achievement Test (NAT) at the third and sixth (NCR) and Region III. The CALABARZON Region
grade is at 6.39% and 12.6%, respectively. As noted has the highest proportion of population with
in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, 14.8% while the NCR has 12.4%. On the other hand,
the poor educational performance of Filipino the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has
children compromised the country’s capacity to the lowest population size of around 1.8 million.
meet the demand for quality human resources of The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim
various industries. Mindanao (BARMM) has registered the fastest
population growth rate at 3.26% annually while
Disparity in population distribution Eastern Visayas or Region VIII has the slowest
across regions resulting in unequal regional growth rate at 0.5% annually.
development. Based on the 2020 CPH, about
two in five Filipinos (39%) are living in the mega-
Table 2. Population Growth Rate (PGR) by Region, 2000, 2010, 2015 and 2020
Source: PSA, Various Censuses
2
Regional coverage of BARMM changed from the previous regional unit.

The disparity in population distribution different picture. There are regions that have
leads to a highly unequal share of economic already attained fertility level that is below
development among regions. As shown in Table replacement fertility (TFR 2.1). However, BARMM,
3 below, the most populated regions (i.e., NCR, Region IX and Region XII still have TFR at around
Central Luzon, and CALABARZON) have more three (3) children. Looking at Figure 11 below, TFR
than half (56%) of the gross domestic products of almost all regions has declined in 2022.
while the rest of the regions account for the rest
of the share. Moreover, poverty incidence across Based on the 2017 National Demographic
regions is highest outside these three regions, and Health Survey (NDHS), every woman of
with BARMM, having the worst poverty condition reproductive age (15-49) has about 2.7 children
(37.2% poverty incidence among population, See within the duration of her childbearing years
Annex F). given the prevailing fertility schedule. However,
as shown in Table 4, it has declined to 1.9 in the
The main driver of population growth 2022 NDHS. The reduction in fertility is observed
is fertility. While fertility has declined on the in almost all age groups.
national level, the regional experience paints a
Figure 11. Fertility Rate by Region, 2013, 2017, 2022
Source: PSA, 2013, 2017, 2022 NDHS

18
Table 3. Gross Regional Domestic Product, Annual,
2020-2022 (in percentage)
REGIONS 2020 2021 2022
NCR National Capital Region 32.3 31.7 31.3
CAR Cordillera Administrative Region 1.6 1.7 1.7
I Ilocos Region 3.3 3.3 3.3
II Cagayan Valley 2 2.1 2.1
III Central Luzon 10.4 10.6 10.7
IVA CALABARZON 14.3 14.4 14.3
IVB MIMAROPA 1.9 2 2.1
V Bicol Region 2.9 2.9 2.9
VI Western Visayas 4.7 4.8 5.1
VII Central Visayas 6.5 6.4 6.4
VIII Eastern Visayas 2.3 2.3 2.3
IX Zamboanga Peninsula 2.2 2.2 2.2
X Northern Mindanao 4.8 4.9 4.9
XI Davao Region 5 5 5
XII SOCCSKSARGEN 2.6 2.6 2.6
XIII Caraga 1.6 1.7 1.7
BARMM Bangsamoro Autonomous 1.5 1.5 1.5
Region in Muslim Mindanao
PHILIPPINES 100 100 100
Source: computed based from PSA, Gross Regional Domestic Product, Annual, 2020-2022
Table 4. Total and age-specific fertility rates by age group, 1993-2022
1993 NDHS 1998 NDHS 2003 NDHS 2008 NDHS 2013 NDHS 2017 NDHS 2022 NDHS
TFR (15-49) 4.1 3.7 3.5 3.3 3.0 2.7 1.9

15-19 50 46 53 54 57 47 25
20-24 190 177 178 163 148 131 84
25-29 217 210 191 172 146 135 105
30-34 181 155 142 136 127 114 95
35-39 120 111 95 84 84 75 58
40-44 51 40 43 38 37 29 21
45-49 8 7 5 6 7 2 (2)
Source: PSA, various NDHS

Achieving a desired fertility is a significant difference between their actual (3.1) and wanted
aspect of reproductive rights. While TFR has fertility (2.1). Among women with no education,
declined, it is still higher than the Filipino their TFR is 2.5 while their wanted fertility is 1.3.
women’s wanted fertility intention (1.5). A birth
is considered wanted if the number of living The 2022 NDHS indicated the decline of the
children at the time of conception is less than proportion of adolescents aged 15-19 who have
or equal to the current ideal number of children begun childbearing from 8.5% in 2017 to 5.4% in
reported by the respondent. 2022. The reduction in births among adolescents
recorded in NDHS is likewise supported by the
Disparity in fertility level remains a function data from the civil registration and vital statistics
of socioeconomic conditions. Generally, women (CRVS). However, a more alarming condition
who belong to lower income quintiles and with is that the number of registered births among
lower levels of educational attainment have adolescents aged 10-14 years has been increasing
higher fertility levels. They also have higher from 2016 to 2021, except for 2020 due to the
unintended fertility with about one (1) child pandemic (See Appendix E).
Table 5. Actual and wanted fertility by background education

and income level, 2022
2022
Background Characteristics Total Fertility Rate Total Wanted Fertility Difference
Total 1.9 1.5 0.4
Education
No Education 2.5 1.3 1.2
Grades 1-6 3.0 2.1 0.9
Grades 7-10 2.4 1.8 0.6
Grades 11-12 2.7 2.7 0
Post secondary 1.6 1.3 0.3
College 1.5 1.3 0.2
Wealth Quintile
Lowest 3.1 2.1 1
Second 2.2 1.6 0.6
Middle 2.0 1.5 0.5
Fourth 1.5 1.2 0.3
Highest 1.4 1.1 0.3
Source: PSA, NDHS 2017, 2022

20
High unmet need for modern family planning methods.
Contraceptive use is a key determinant of fertility. In the Philippines,
the total contraceptive prevalence rate has increased from 54.3%
(2017 NDHS) to 58.3% (2022 NDHS), although modern contraceptive
use has increased only by two (2) percentage points, from 40% to
42%. Among modern contraceptive methods, the pill is consistently
the most commonly used method. There is a female bias on method
mix, with condom and male sterilization only receiving 2.3%. The
acceptance for subdermal implants has the highest increase.
Figure 12. Percent distribution of currently married women by

contraceptive method used, 2022
Source: NDHS 2022

Women who intend to space or limit births but are
not using family planning methods are considered to
have an “unmet need” for family planning. Unmet need
for modern family planning methods also indicates the
level of percentage of women who are not using modern
methods of contraception while they intended to limit and
space their children. This indicator serves as an instrument
for more efficient service delivery as it allows service
providers to identify and focus on women most in need of
family planning services while recognizing the individuals’
changing fertility states and goals.

22
Table 6. Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate and Unmet Need
for Family Planning by Background Characteristics, 2017, 2022
Background Characteristics Modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate Unmet Need for FP
(MCPR)
2017 2022 2017 2022
Total 40.4 41.8 16.7 12.4

Education
No education 19.1 27.2 24.3 19.6
Elementary 41.4 44.5 17.9 13.0
High School 44.0 43.9 16.2 11.6
Grade 11-12 37.5 21.5
Post-Secondary 37.1 41.6 17.9 16.4
College 34.9 38.5 16.3 12.1
Wealth Quintile
Lowest 43.8 45.4 18.1 13.7
Second 46.2 46.4 16.4 12.4
Middle 41.1 43.3 15.9 12.2
Fourth 36.9 34.8 16.1 12.6
Highest 33.4 38.8 17.0 11.0
Source: NDHS 2017 and NDHS 2022
Based on the 2022 NDHS, unmet need for FP declined

from 16.7% to 12.4% between 2017 and 2022. (Table 6).
Across educational attainment, modern contraceptive use
increased among women with no education while their
unmet need for FP declined during the same period. Despite
this, it should be noted that mCPR remains lowest among
this group of women, which suggests the inadequacy of
access to modern family planning methods for them.

Across regions, contraceptive use is likewise disparate.
Among the 17 administrative regions of the country, four
regions have a contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for
modern family planning methods that are lower than the
national level. These are NCR, Region IV-A, Region V and
BARMM. Region II registered the highest modern CPR with
58.3% while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim
Mindanao (BARMM) had the lowest with only 20.5% of
married women (see Figure 13 below).
Figure 13. Percent distribution of married women by modern

contraceptive method used, by region, 2022
Source: NDHS 2022

24
Pacing for demographic transition. Given the declining
fertility level, improving life expectancy and declining
mortality, the natural increase of population of the country
is likewise at a downward trend. This paves the way for the
country towards the third phase of demographic transition
where both fertility and mortality are declining. Nonetheless,
as economic experts have pointed out, the country already
missed significant economic opportunities and advantages
from demographic changes due to the slow pace of
population decline and sustained economic growth. Reaping
the demographic dividend does not only entail interventions
to reduce fertility but it is imperative that investments must
be made in education, health, employment, and economic
welfare, among others (Del Mundo, 2021).
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT (POPDEV) NEXUS
The World Bank (2022) has cited the Indonesia, from 13% to 9.8%. In the case of the
Philippine economy as one of the most vibrant Philippines, however, the rise in GNI per capita
and dynamic in the Asia Pacific region. It has did not result in poverty reduction for the same
also identified the country’s sound and firm period. Instead, its poverty incidence rose from
fiscal and economic fundamentals as the key 13% to 23.7%.
factors of the country’s relative resilience to
the devastating impact of the COVID-19 global Evidently, the same period’s demographic
pandemic. Nonetheless, the Philippines has been situation had also figured in each country’s
lagging behind other Asian countries particularly economic development, thus: the Philippines’
in terms of economic development (World Bank, population grew from 37 million to 110 million;
2022). Thailand, from 37 million to only 70 million;
Malaysia, from 11 million to 33 million and
Demographers and economists have Indonesia, from 115 million to 247 million (Pernia,
pointed out the country’s inability to realize 2022).
its full potential for significant socioeconomic
development in sharp contrast with the more As discussed above, the age structure of
economically progressive countries in Southeast the population provides an opportunity for the
Asia, particularly Thailand, Malaysia, and increasing human resource to more significantly
Indonesia. For example, Pernia (2022) points out contribute to socioeconomic development. Based
that the Philippines’ gross national income per on the experience of other countries that have
capita was $220 in the 1970’s and improved to achieved demographic transition, simulations
$3,430 in 2020. For the same period, Malaysia showed that one percentage point increase of the
improved from $210 to $7,050; Thailand, from working age population results in an estimated
$370 to $10,580; and Indonesia, from $80 to 1.79 percentage points increase in economic
$3,870. growth rate (Balisacan and Mapa, 2004).
Such economic conditions have resulted in For the Philippines, an econometric

a substantial reduction in poverty incidence for modeling showed that the support ratio will be
the period 1970 to 2020: in Malaysia, from 50% greater than 0.50 starting 2025 when there is full
to 8.4%; in Thailand, from 13% to 8.8%; and in employment, in addition to the lowering of fertility

rate and increasing the years of schooling (Mapa,
2015). Additionally, if an aggressive population At present, more than half of Filipinos in
program is implemented, poverty incidence is the country are living in urban areas, resulting
projected to decline from 19% (2017) to 9% in in a substantial disparity in spatial distribution
(2032), while the number of poor population is between the rural and urban areas. The latter
projected to decline from 20 million to 12 million have become more densely populated and the
(Abrigo and Herrin,2018). This demographic former continue to suffer a shortage of workers
opportunity referred as demographic dividend, while struggling to sustain their livelihood.
however, entails healthy, educated, and skilled The current trend in urbanization is driven by
human resources and their capacity to earn internal migration as discussed above. While
income from employment and economic urbanization has generally a positive economic
activities. Generally, the size of the dividends impact on local development, unmanaged
that can be reaped from the current population urbanization has resulted in a serious mismatch
structure depends on how much people produce between population, on one hand, and physical
and consume at each age-level. infrastructure and basic social and economic
services, on the other. Metropolitan areas in the
Investments, therefore, in human capital country now face serious urbanization-related
development and employment need to be problems, such as the inadequacy of social
accelerated to lay down the preconditions of services; proliferation of slum dwellers; traffic
demographic dividend. As cited in the PDP for congestion; shortages in water supply; inadequate
2023-2028, there remains a slow progress in sewerage system; unmanaged garbage and other
childhood nutrition outcomes, with potentially related conditions.
lifelong health, education, and, ultimately,
economic effects. Furthermore, education The population’s growing segment of
outcomes need improvement. In terms of older persons in the country is catching up with
employment and income-earning capacity, the the global ageing phenomenon. This situation
PDP likewise highlighted that in 2010–2019, net poses critical challenges not only in ensuring
employment generation (+7.9 million) outpaced the well-being of this population segment, but,
the increase in labor force (+6.8 million), raising more importantly, in optimizing its contribution
real wages and productivity. Signs of recovery to the household and national socioeconomic
from the pandemic was, however, seen in the development. Improving the older persons’
employment sector when in 2021, the labor force socioeconomic conditions and capacity to
participation rate (LFPR) increased to 61.4% after support themselves and their families remains
dipping to 59.5% in 2020. The LFPR improved to be a pressing concern, considering the fact
further to 63.3% in 2022. The unemployment rate that it is inadequately addressed at the policy
eased to 8.0% in 2021, decreasing further to 5.4% and program levels (Pazzibugan, 2022; Inquirer,
in 2022. At the same time, the number of wage 2022).
and salary workers has also been increasing,
growing by 7.6% (+2.0 million) and constituting At the household level, the poor households’
63.2% of total employment in 2022. However, fertility behaviors and preferences continue to
the proportion of vulnerable employment (i.e., undermine their own capacity to provide and
self-employed and unpaid family workers) invest in basic socioeconomic needs and services.
to total employment remains high at 34.1% in In particular, early and unintended pregnancies
2022. Moreover, underemployment persists, among young girls expose them to various risks
remaining elevated at 14.2% in 2022 despite the and vulnerabilities, including intergenerational
improvement from 17.6% in 2021 and 16.2% in poverty, thus affecting their capacity to fulfill
2020. Skills mismatch remain a concern in the their aspirations and potentials.
labor market.
26
EMPOWERING THE POPULATION
To achieve a matatag, panatag at reproductive rights and is enshrined in this plan.

maginhawang buhay para sa lahat, (strongly A more efficient service delivery should focus on
rooted, comfortable, and secure lives), PPD-POA women most in need of not only family planning
considers the above scenarios that lay down services but other developmental and productive
the challenges ahead in meeting the PDP vision, activities, while recognizing the individuals’
and by extension, the CPD goals, in developing changing fertility states and goals.
the full potentials of Filipino families and their
communities. To empower them entails checking The Plan ushers in the third phase of
and managing demographic factors such as demographic transition3 where both fertility
urbanization, population/age structure that and mortality are declining. Such a situation
should offer prospects for growth more creatively can positively drive economic growth through
and productively, as well as crafting policies for aggressive schemes to provide opportunities for
older persons, among others. It likewise involves income generation and creative activities.
investment on their basic needs and services to
stem the tide of intergenerational poverty. Urban sprawl, migration, ageing of
population, rise of transnational families,
This PPD-POA seeks to see contented and effects of climate change and other interesting
enabled families and communities free from patterns on the movement and composition
hunger and poverty with a roof above their of the Philippine population require managing
heads, relishing peace and time with family and interdependent urban and rural development,
neighbors and having resources to get them by. such as geographic dispersion of the urban
It thus takes cognizance of the need to distribute population. Severe urbanization-related
the population across regions with parity. It problems need adequate social services, such as
acknowledges that Filipinos are relatively getting sufficient water supply, suitable sewerage system,
older given the increased fraction of the working controlled garbage, and other related conditions.
age population. By utilizing human resources This is where the Commission on Population and
effectively, there will be higher productivity and Development (CPD) would need the cooperation
inputs to economic development. of other agencies, since these family strategies for
empowerment are concerns needing a whole-
Empowering women to have children of-society and whole-of-government approach.
that they intended to have is a crucial aspect of
3
Refer to the definition of terms

28
CHAPTER 2 OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
The demographic situation narrated above presents

both opportunities and challenges to the country’s
socioeconomic development agenda. Given the declining
population growth rate, which is mainly caused by decreasing
fertility levels, the increase in the proportion of the working
age population and the decline of the proportion of young
dependents provide a significant opportunity and potential
for the country to accelerate socioeconomic development
from the household to macro-level. Declining fertility
among women, particularly among young girls, also provides
them greater opportunity to complete their education and
improve their lives.
However, key demographic challenges to be addressed

to fully support socioeconomic development. High fertility
remains to be a characteristic among poor and uneducated
women. High rates of early pregnancies that expose younger
girls (10-14 years) to intergenerational poverty also remain
high among the poor. The influx of migrants to urban areas
and the decline in human resource in areas of origin are also
important concerns that need to be addressed to optimize
the economic impact of urbanization while mitigating its
loss in rural areas.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Plan is guided by the following principles:
1. Integrated population and development strategies shall be pursued in

recognition and promotion of the universally recognized rights and freedoms
of each individual;
2. People are the most important and valuable resource and the center of
development in the country, hence, their capacity and opportunity to achieve
their potentials and participate in development shall be enhanced;
3. The right to development shall be assured and guaranteed to equitably meet

the population, development and environment needs of the present and
future generations;
4. The PPD-POA shall be anchored on the promotion of gender equality and

equity, women empowerment, elimination of cultural and socioeconomic
barriers to equal opportunities and intergenerational wellbeing;
5. The right of individuals, couples, and families to freely decide on the number,
timing and spacing of children shall be facilitated by access to widest range
of family planning and other reproductive health information and services
and an enabling support from the community;
6. The family is the basic unit of the society and important institution in pursuing
sustainable socioeconomic development, hence they shall be strengthened
and enabled;
7. The fulfillment of everyone’s right to education, skills development and

health services shall be directed to the full development of human resources,
human dignity, and potential with particular attention to women and girls;
8. Sustainable and inclusive development shall be pursued through inclusion of

all age groups and sectors of population with preferential treatment among
the marginalized groups such as the urban and rural poor, indigenous people,
persons with disabilities, children, older persons, workers in the informal
economy and those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged
areas; and,
9. Success of these strategies requires the participation and involvement of all

of the government and the society.

PPD-POA AND THE PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
PPD-POA is tied to the Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028 addressing

the following areas:
1. Boosting Health. The PPD-POA aims to contribute to boosting health through

the promotion of responsible parenthood, family planning, maternal health,
and other reproductive health strategies. Family planning aims to increase
the capacity of women and the members of the family to ensure greater
investment in health care through proper spacing and timing of children.
Moreover, the PPD-POA shall work towards the reduction of adolescent
pregnancies to prevent health risks including mortality among young people.
Proper population management in communities also helps in ensuring the
provision of quality of healthcare services especially in urban areas.
2. Improving education and lifelong learning. Through the promotion of life

cycle and intergenerational approach, POPDEV strategies shall contribute to
the improvement of education and lifelong learning among Filipinos through
responsible parenthood and family planning. This strategy aims to increase
the capacity of couples and individuals to improve their ability to invest in
the education and skills development of their children and themselves. It
also seeks to reduce adolescent pregnancies and other reproductive health-
related barriers to education. Meanwhile, education shall be promoted to
improve the capacity of women and couples to achieve their reproductive
rights.
3. Establishing livable communities. The formation of livable communities

entails access to human, social, and economic development opportunities. As
such, this needs in-depth information, knowledge, and strategies to promote
more manageable and rational spatial patterns of population which are
largely affected by internal migration. Population movement remains driven
by economic reasons, as such, an effective spatial development including
efficient management of internal migration needs to be pursued. Population
pressure on urban and rural environments and on socioeconomic services
likewise needs to be rationalized and properly managed to ensure more
livable communities where there is equitable access to these services.
4. Ensuring food security and proper nutrition. The supply of food and
nutritional services rests on the existing and projected level of demand or
patterns of consumption among the population. The capacity of the country
to provide for sufficient food entails addressing the demand variables and not
just the production side. The demand side of food and nutrition programs
includes the capacity of households to have the number and spacing of
children that they can support with adequate basic needs including food.
Unmanaged urbanization and increasing demand for land use likewise
impact on the availability of agricultural land for production; hence, effective
management of population growth and rational land use through managed
geographic location of population need to be pursued.

32
5. Strengthening social protection. Poverty, social exclusion and other risks and
vulnerabilities among marginalized sectors of the population are exacerbated
by large family size or too many unplanned pregnancies. As such, the
capacity of families to plan their number of children and prevent unwanted
pregnancies are critical abilities among marginalized populations that need
to be developed through an enabling policy and program environment.
Women and girls who are poor and with low levels of education, those in
the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, adolescent mothers,
older persons, and workers in the information economy are among the
marginalized sectors of the society needing social protection interventions.
6. Accelerating climate action and strengthening disaster resilience.

Population dynamics (i.e., size, spatial distribution, consumption, or energy
use patterns) are crucial factors of climate change. As such, incorporating
population dynamics into research, policy making and advocacy on climate
change is critical for understanding the trajectory of global greenhouse gas
emissions and developing and implementing adaptation plans, and thus
contribute to global and national efforts to curtail this threat.

PPD-POA AND THE ATTAINMENT OF THE ICPD AND SDGS
PPD-POA also contributes to the country’s initiative to achieve the Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) and the remaining objectives of the International
Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD-POA).
These are two mutually reinforcing development blueprints that aim to improve
lives, support reproductive health and rights, and advance gender equality.
The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in

Cairo was a milestone in the history of population and development and women’s
rights. During the conference, the world agreed that population is not just about
counting people, but about making sure that every person counts. ICPD is a
consensus that the equality and empowerment of women is a global priority. It
approaches this not only from the perspective of universal human rights, but also
as an essential step towards eradicating poverty and stabilizing population growth.
A woman’s ability to access reproductive health and rights is the cornerstone of her
empowerment. It is also the key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
A total of 179 governments signed up to the ICPD Programme of Action which

sets out to:
1. Provide universal access to family planning and sexual and reproductive

health services and reproductive rights;
2. Deliver gender equality, empowerment of women and equal access to

education for girls;
3. Address the individual, social and economic impact of urbanization and

migration; and,
4. Support sustainable development and address environmental issues

associated with population changes.

34
Another foundation for PPD-POA is the Sustainable Development Goals – a
set of 17 goals aiming to transform the world over the next 15 years, to eliminate
poverty, discrimination, and abuse as well as prevent deaths, address environmental
destruction, and usher in an era of development for all people, everywhere. Given
the relevance of population dynamics, the PPD-POA specifically aims to contribute
to the attainment of the following SDGs:
SDG 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere;

SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and
improved nutrition and promote
sustainable agriculture;
SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being
for all at all ages;
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all
and promote lifelong learning;
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all
women and girls;
SDG 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all;
SDG 7: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic
growth, employment and decent work
for all;
SDG 8: Reduce inequality within and among
countries;
SDG 9: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable;
SDG 10: Take urgent action to combat climate change
and its impacts;
SDG 11: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive
societies; and,
SDG 12: Revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development.
OUR GOAL
The PPD-POA’s goal is to optimize demographic opportunities and

address persistent population issues and challenges to reap demographic
dividend and accelerate sustainable and inclusive development at all levels.
This requires a holistic approach from all stakeholders plus a combination of
policies and programs which take into account a range of factors, including
regional and socioeconomic disparities. This PPD-POA recognizes the different
contexts related to various population conditions, issues and concerns across the
country within which its plan of action shall be designed and pursued. The goal
also entails an enabling environment where each one has the capacity to access
basic health, nutrition, education, social and other services for their wellbeing;
to move and search for better economic opportunities and earn income; to
enjoy the environment and livable communities; to be free from injustices and
inequalities, among others.

OUR OBJECTIVES
The figure below shows the Strategic Framework

of demographic contexts and prospects highlighting the
alignment with and interlink between PDP’s Vision and PPD-
POA’s Development Mission to realize the SDGs.
Figure 14. Strategic Framework
To pursue the goal of optimizing demographic opportunities to address

population issues and challenges, PPD-POA will pursue the following key objectives:
1. Facilitate demographic transition. The declining fertility rates among women

offers a more enabling demographic situation vis-à-vis the socioeconomic
agenda of the government through demographic transition. This objective
aims to strike a balance between the demographic rates and socio-economic
and environmental goals, which contribute to the stabilization of population
in the country together with the changes in the unsustainable patterns of
production and consumption to sustainable development and economic
growth.
This objective also seeks to reduce adolescent pregnancies especially among

minors. Children and adolescent pregnancies should be addressed not only
in view of its demographic implications, particularly repeat pregnancies and
higher fertility, but also on its impact on the overall potential and wellbeing
of young people. Its economic costs and impact on the formation of the
country’s human resource provide a strong rationale for the intervention to
become a significant and sustained development strategy.

36
2. Facilitate enabling socioeconomic preconditions for demographic
dividend. The changing age structure of the population is a critical condition
in attaining demographic dividend. However, this entails that the working
age population are productively earning income that can support the young
and old dependents. As such, it implies that young people and the workers
have the necessary health and skills to perform productive work through
quality education and skills development. Available jobs and economic
opportunities for people to earn income must likewise be provided. With
greater investments in the health, education and skills development of
children, households have greater chances to achieve their wellbeing.
3. Facilitate more rational population distribution. The disparity in population

distribution across provinces and regions has been an emerging determinant
of socioeconomic inequality across these geographic areas. Creating an
enabling environment for people to choose to stay in their birthplace will
give them options and increase their capabilities for development in their
localities. This demographic concern is aligned with the PDP’s agenda of
creating livable communities.
4. Promote inclusive and sustainable wellbeing and development of all

age groups through their life course. The changes in the age structure
of the country’s population imply the need to ensure the wellbeing and
development of all age groups. It also implies the need to ensure the
wellbeing of each age group to ensure their development throughout their
life stages. It underscores the importance of investment in the development
of children and young people to ensure healthy, capable and enabled people
in the present and in the future.
This also includes the initiatives to promote the inclusive development of

marginalized and underserved sectors of population including the indigenous
people, older persons, persons with disabilities, urban and rural poor, and
workers in the informal economy. Putting the needs of these segments of
population in the mainstream of development through more targeted and
context-based approaches addresses existing inequalities.
5. Integrate population factors and strategies in national, regional and local

development. Demographic factors, combined with poverty and lack of
access to resources and services in many areas, and excessive consumption
and wasteful production, cause or exacerbate environmental degradation
and natural resource depletion, hence, deters sustainable development.
Furthermore, population size and growth remains a critical factor in ensuring
quality educational, health, nutritional and other socioeconomic services,
hence, there is a need to consciously consider and address population factors
as a deliberate sectoral development initiative.

38
PART II:
OUR PLAN
OF ACTION
Given the above-mentioned objectives (see Figure 14), eight specific but
interrelated strategies shall be pursued in collaboration with various stakeholders.
1. Promote Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning. This strategy aims

to promote and enhance the capacities of couples and individuals to achieve
their wellbeing and aspiration as a family by enabling them to achieve their
fertility goals (i.e., timing, spacing and number of children) within the demands
of responsible parenthood and informed choice.
2. Advance Adolescent Health and Development (AHD). This strategy aims to

enable adolescents to prevent early pregnancies to increase their chance
and capacity to achieve their potentials and aspirations. It likewise involves
initiatives that aim to capacitate parents, teachers and adults to effectively
guide young people in making informed decisions about their sexuality and
personal development.
3. Support Labor Force Empowerment and Active and Healthy Ageing. As

part of the life-cycle approach, this strategy supports the formation and
development of human resources to enhance their capacity to be employed
or earn income, save and invest for the future. This also aims to support the
creation of an enabling environment for active and healthy ageing given the
steady increase of older persons. These actions are integrated as the promotion
of labor force empowerment will be critical in ensuring that today’s human
resource will have a secured socioeconomic life as they go through old age.
4. Accelerate Inclusive Development among Marginalized Sectors of the

Population. Aside from various needs across age groups, there is a need
to identify and address the specific concerns of the marginalized and
underserved segment of population including the persons with disabilities,
indigenous people, urban and rural poor, older persons and those belonging
to the informal economy. It shall endeavor to improve the program and
policy environment for these special segments of population to ensure their
wellbeing.
5. Integrate Population Agenda in Sectoral Development. This strategy is

hinged upon the recognition of the significant impact of population on
sectoral development. Given the increasing working age population and
lesser proportion of young dependents, the opportunity for demographic
dividend in the county has become more viable. As such, POPDEV integrated
approach shall be pursued to mobilize relevant sectors such as health,

employment, education and other relevant agencies to facilitate development
and employment of human resources towards greater economic productivity.
Moreover, this approach shall act on the integration of population-related
strategies in various sectoral initiatives (e.g., environment, climate change,
food security and agricultural development, etc.) to facilitate more efficiently
the attainment of sectoral goals and objectives.
6. Strengthen People-Centered Regional and Local Development. This strategy

emphasizes the role of regional and local government units in pursuing
population and development initiates within the areas. It shall enable regional
and local institutions to plan, implement and evaluate initiatives that address
their regional and local population issues to pursue their development
agenda. It specifically ensures that population and development integrated
issues and strategies are explicitly considered and included in regional and
local development plans and strategies particularly within the context of full
devolution. Moreover, it shall guarantee the development and implementation
of intersectoral POPDEV initiatives to pursue more integrated development
(e.g., Population, Health, Environment and Development integration).
7. Foster International Partnership and Collaboration on POPDEV. The country’s

demographic situation has become increasingly connected with the global
demographic dynamics. Global ageing, for example, has created demands
for care and health services from less developed economies which facilitated
the movement of human resources to ageing countries providing serious
implications on the health and social systems of migrant-sending countries
such as the Philippines. Within this context, this strategy seeks to improve the
country’s capacity to formulate and implement POPDEV strategies through
effective knowledge-sharing and collaborative arrangements with relevant
countries. It also seeks to foster bilateral and multilateral partnerships in
pursuing relevant POPDEV strategies.
8. Intensify POPDEV Research and Knowledge Management System. This

strategy intends to improve the body of knowledge and sources of information
on the interrelationships of population and development variables and
concepts to support evidence-based plan, program and policy formulation
and implementation. The conduct of POPDEV research and establishment,
analysis and utilization of relevant databases and information will characterize
this approach.
These eight strategies are discussed in detail from Chapter 3 to Chapter 10.

42
CHAPTER 3 PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND
FAMILY PLANNING
The 1994 ICPD-POA recognizes the constitutionally guaranteed
right of individuals to raise their family and to have the freedom to
decide and act on the timing, spacing and number of their children
within the demands of responsible parenthood. This right is likewise
underscored by the ICPD-POA with emphasis on the right of men and
women to be informed and have access to safe, effective, affordable
and acceptable family planning methods of their choice and the
right of access to timely and quality health care services to enable
women to undergo safe pregnancy and childbirth. This also includes
sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and
personal relations between partners. All these are guaranteed by the
National Population Policy (PD 79) and the Responsible Parenthood
and Reproductive Health Law (RA 10354) through the mandates of
promoting family planning and ensuring the access to corresponding
services.
In the exercise of these reproductive rights, emphasis shall be

given on the capacity of couples or partners to take into account the
needs of their present and future children and their responsibilities
towards the community, including their own productive capacities.
Furthermore, actions shall be focused on promoting mutually
respectful and equitable gender relations particularly greater
involvement of men in responsible parenthood and family planning
and prevention of violence against women and children.
Within these contexts, the concept of human development shall

serve as the overall framework in pursuing responsible parenthood
and family planning. Executing the framework means improving
the families’ capacity to exercise their reproductive rights to enable
them to have greater competence to invest in the education and
health of their family members. Hand in hand with reproductive
rights are the couple’s productive functions that are expected to
result in improved socioeconomic conditions in the present and
in the long run. Also, the strategy to operationalize the framework
implies pursuing integrated and holistic socio-economic actions to
ensure the overall wellbeing and development of families, and the
communities in which they live. Such a strategy shall form part of
the government’s action to generally support the development and
stability of families, taking into account the family’s emerging plurality
of forms (e.g., single-parent households or other non-traditional
family arrangements). Not to be excluded as partners in this strategy
are the civil society organizations and the private sectors with their
human resources that could be mobilized to implement the strategy.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
The following are the actions and specific programs, activities and projects
under this strategy:
1. Fully promote and implement the national population and family planning
program and the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH)
Law particularly at the local level
Family planning services shall be strengthened at the local level through

partnership and assistance from concerned national government agencies
and non-government partners. The local government units shall be trained
to manage the family planning program at their own levels so that women,
couples and individuals are able to exercise their reproductive rights.
a) Strengthen and expand family planning services as part of basic health

care services within the universal health care system
All LGUs shall strive to make accessible the widest range of family planning
methods to all couples and individuals who are desirous of spacing
and limiting their children within the context of informed choice and
voluntarism. Given the increasing use and demand for family planning
services, continuity and expansion of the services must be ensured.
Programs, Activities and Projects
PAPs Concerned Agencies

Expand and upgrade formal and informal training or DOH, CPD and LGUs, Private
capacity building of service providers (e.g., Family Planning Sector, PSSC, CSOs
Competency-Based Training Level 1 and 2; interpersonal
communication and counseling), health educators
and managers to ensure availability of long-acting and
permanent FP methods.
• Integrate FP orientation and HIV screening/

orientation on pregnant women
Continuous provision of family planning services at the LGUs

community level including those in geographically isolated
and disadvantaged areas and among those with difficulty
in accessing the services
• Expand FP choices/services to indigents through a one

stop shop for Family Planning Services (i.e., counselling
and supply)

Organize and deploy FP Outreach Teams (attached to CPD, DOH, LGUs (hospitals), private
accredited hospitals and FP clinics) or mobile RH clinics institutions
Continually improve public health facilities for quality FP DOH and LGUs
services
• Strengthen FP counseling in facilities; address mental

and psycho-social RH needs
• Digitalize Supply Chain Management (SCM)
Establish and sustain family program in public and DOH, CPD, hospitals
private hospitals
Promote and support the expansion and sustainability of DOH, PhilHealth and LGUs
FP stand-alone clinics
• Reassess/reaccredit, train and monitor FP providers
b) Enhance and harmonize program management structure and

collaborative arrangements at the national and regional levels
Notwithstanding the devolution of family planning and population

development services, these remain as national programs that should
be efficiently organized and managed so that all actions of stakeholders
are aligned and synchronized towards the attainment of common
program goals. As such, improved mechanisms for collaboration and
coordination are needed for a more harmonized and synergistic actions
among stakeholders. Existing interagency coordinating bodies at all
levels (such as population and development, implementation teams for
the RPRH law, pre-marriage orientation and counseling teams) must be
mobilized. Terms of reference including the common objectives of the
members of these coordinative bodies must be agreed on.

46

Strengthen the agenda and processes of the national and DOH, CPD and other NIT/RIT
regional implementation teams for the RPRH law members
Strengthen the functionality of local implementation teams DILG, LCEs and other local
for the RPRH law stakeholders, CPD
• Localize advocacy projects/events that promote

information dissemination
• Region specific policy interventions on FP
Enhance collaboration between DOH and CPD to DOH, CPD, NEDA

efficiently support the LGUs in the delivery of FP
information and services
Finalize and implement Multi-Sectoral Plan for RPRH Law DOH and other partners
Implementation
Convene the national, regional and local steering and DOH, CPD, DSWD, DILG, PSA and
technical working groups to conduct Pre-Marriage LGUs
Orientation and Counseling
c) Ensure the availability of FP commodities and services
The increasing contraceptive prevalence rate and number of current

users of family planning methods are indicators to sustain the availability
of FP commodities and services. As such, national government and
local government units (LGUs) should procure and make available the
widest range of family planning services within their jurisdictions and
continuously train service providers on FP.


Improve forecasting process for FP commodities and DOH, CPD and other NIT/RIT
services at the national and regional levels members
Ensure procurement of FP commodities at the national DOH, CPD, development partners

and regional levels
• Address incidence of stockouts of FP commodities by

supporting procurement, delivery/ distribution of FP
commodities
Improve the Supply Chain Management (SCM) for DOH, CPD, LGUs
FP supplies and commodities including tracking and
repositioning of supplies
Enable LGUs in the forecasting, resource allocation and DOH, DILG, LGUs
procurement of FP commodities through contraceptive
self-reliance initiatives
• Support to 5th and 6th class municipalities in the

procurement of FP supplies and commodities
d) Build and link demands for FP with access to service delivery
The level of demand for family planning remains wanting and this
suggests the development of a comprehensive communication strategy
particularly at the local level to address knowledge and behavioral
barriers to family planning. Non-use of contraception is usually caused
by misconceptions and misinformation about certain family planning
methods.

48

Promote men’s involvement in RPFP (KATROPA) at all CPD, LGUs, CSOs and male-
levels and in FP counseling dominated organizations,
• More research on male involvement in FP and desired Research Institutions, Academe,

family size CSOs, PSSC
• Increase access to NSV services and mainstreaming
(permanent method) it in hospitals and Primary Care
Facilities
Sustain the conduct of community-based or household CPD, DOH, DSWD (4Ps), LGUs, CSOs
level social behavior change communication strategies on
RPFP (including in the family development session of 4Ps)
• Develop an implementable communication plan for

RPFP at the national, regional and local levels
• Develop, produce and disseminate communication
and promotional materials
• Intensify social media/online or traditional media
campaign on RPFP
• Conduct special events (e.g., FP month) to promote
importance of family planning
Promote and institutionalize RPFP in the workplace All government agencies, private
companies or organizations
• Conduct RPFP sessions for all government workers at (e.g., employer and employees’
all levels (national, regional and local) organizations), LGUs, CSOs,
• Institutionalize RPFP sessions for workers in large people’s organizations
companies as part of employees or human resource
wellness program DOLE, DTI, NAPC, PCUP, CPD
• Institutionalize RPFP sessions for workers in small,
medium and micro enterprises
• Institutionalize RPFP sessions for workers in the
informal economy (e.g., public utility drivers, vendors,
farmers, fisherfolks, etc.)
Review and update the implementation of the Pre- CPD, DOH, DSWD, PSA, DILG and
Marriage Orientation and Counseling (PMOC) Program at LGUs
the local level
Promote awareness and utilization of PhilHealth benefit PhilHealth and LGUs

for reproductive health and family planning services by
integrating appropriate communication strategies

2. Strengthen existing mechanisms to prevent sexual abuse and violence
against women in general, and in particular, those resulting in unwanted
pregnancies
The incidence of sexual assault, abuse and violence against women and
girls are direct determinants of unwanted pregnancies that call for stronger
mechanisms to protect women and girls from sexual abuse and violence. This
action includes efforts to promote responsible sexuality permitting relations
of equity and mutual respect between couples. Several interventions are laid
down below:

Address the gaps or barriers in the mechanisms for the IACT-VAWC, CHR
reporting of VAWC
Collaborate with concerned institutions to strengthen PNP, LGUs, DOJ, CHR

the mechanisms for the implementation of existing
laws protecting women and girls from sexual abuse and
violence
Conduct of aggressive online and interpersonal PCW, LGUs, DepEd, CHR

campaigns on preventing VAWC including its integration
in the basic education system
Promote gender equality by strengthening men CPD, DSWD, LGUs, PCW, CHR
involvement in prevention of VAWC

50
3. Address the socioeconomic dimensions of high fertility or incidence of
unplanned pregnancies (particularly among the poor)
High fertility and non-use of contraception are prevalent among people with
poor socioeconomic conditions. Hence, RPFP strategies must be integrated
as follows:

Strengthen the integration of RPFP and poverty reduction DSWD, CPD, DAR, DA, DOLE, LGUs,
and socioeconomic/human development programs CSOs
and strategies (e.g., FDS of 4Ps, KALAHI CIDSS, and local
poverty mitigation programs)
Improve indigents’ access to education services and DepEd, TESDA, CHED and private
skills development program to prevent intergenerational sector
poverty among women and men and to improve
socioeconomic conditions of families
Improve access to income-generating activities and DOLE, DTI, DAR, private sector,
other employment programs of women and couples, LGUs
particularly those with low-income and low-level of
education

52
ADVANCE ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND
CHAPTER 4 DEVELOPMENT (AHD)
A life-cycle development begins with the concept that

the well-being and capabilities of an individual depends
on a cumulative and interlinked process. The health and
wellbeing of an individual during his/her lifetime requires
access to health care, living in a safe environment, plus
extensive learning through education, training and skills. As
such, from the early years, survival is key.
Moreover, this life-cycle approach to building human

capital involves enabling adolescents to prevent barriers to
the completion of their education and skills development
such as early pregnancies and other conditions resulting
from risky behaviors. Hence, this strategy aims to promote
the wellbeing, capabilities and development of children and
adolescents, who are in the formative years, to achieve their
development tasks successfully during such stages of life to
enable them to go through the adult stage effectively.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
This strategy shall be collectively pursued through the interlinked activities related
to policy and plan development, data and information and knowledge management,
social behavior change approaches, leadership and governance, investment
programming, community support and participation, monitoring and evaluation:
1. Strengthen the implementation and promotion of Comprehensive Sexuality

Education (CSE) in schools and communities among adolescents and other
stakeholders

Fully rollout and implement an effective, rights-based, DepEd, CHED, CPD, DOH, LGUs,
evidence-informed, and gender transformative approach CSOs, private schools
on CSE through the DepEd Order No. 031-2018 (i.e., policy
guidelines for the implementation of the CSE in the school
curriculum)
• Expand the rollout of the training and continuing

capacity building of teachers and educators of various
formal and information educational programs or
systems and mobilize them in the actual promotion of
CSE concepts and skills
• Sustain development, enhancement and access to
teaching and learning materials on CSE that can be
effectively used by educators and learners
• Expand implementation and adoption of the CSE in
private schools
Integrate CSE in other learning modalities to include TESDA, CHED, DSWD, BARMM,
technical and vocational training, alternative learning NCMF, NYC, LGUs, CSOs
system, madrasah education program and in other
institutionalized learning strategies such as the youth
development session (YDS) of the Pantawid Program
Build and equip parents and guardians with necessary CPD, DepEd (PTA), DSWD,
information and skills to effectively guide their children schools, CSOs, CWC, NYC, civic
and adolescents in dealing with sexuality-related concerns organizations, development
partners, LGUs

Develop, design, implement and assess innovative and DOH, CPD, CWC, NYC, DSWD,
interactive social behavior change interventions and DepEd, TESDA, CHED, CSOs,
materials on CSE development partners, LGUs,
private sector (e.g., media)
• Develop and implement an interagency, integrated
and harmonized communication and social behavior
change strategy to promote unified messages and
complementary activities and efficiently pool available
resources at all levels
• Optimize available and emerging digital and online
platforms to reach adolescents and young people
• Mobilize influencers and media personalities as role
models, advocates and champions for the prevention
of adolescent pregnancies and promoting reproductive
health among adolescents
• Strengthen and expand peer education program
particularly through emerging online and digital
platforms and their continuing capacity building and
mobilization
• Mobilize media institutions and the private sector
through their corporate social responsibility programs
to help promote CSE
Enhance the capacities of service providers, community LGUs, DILG, CPD, DOH, NYC, CWC
volunteers and workers, Sanggunian Kabataan and and CSOs
barangay officials on adolescent sexual and reproductive
health to enable them to provide adolescent-friendly
information and services
Partner and engage civil society organizations, youth LGUs, CSOs, POs, and private
associations and leaders, faith-based groups and people’s institutions
organizations in the promotion of CSE at the community
and grassroots level
Develop appropriate learning and teaching modules or CPD, CSOs, LGUs

manuals and mobilization of itinerant educational hub or
facility for the promotion of CSE among adolescents in the
marginalized sectors including adolescent mothers, those
belonging to the urban poor, indigenous communities,
persons with disabilities, informal sector, persons
deprived of liberty, those in social institutions, living in
geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA)
and other groups and institutions that are deprived of
capacities and means to access CSE
Strengthen and improve the capacities of local DILG, LGUs

government units in implementing CSE-related initiatives
through the full devolution initiatives

56
2. Improve availability and access of adolescents to sexual and reproductive
health (ASRH) and other social services
Access to ASRH and other social services shall be strengthened to enable

adolescents to prevent pregnancies and other concomitant reproductive
health issues such as sexually transmitted infections and other gynecological
diseases. A wide range of reproductive health care services including family
planning methods shall be made available for sexually active adolescents,
young mothers and fathers and those who are exposed to risky sexual
activities to enable them to focus or continue with their education and
economic activities. For pregnant girls and those who are already mothers,
maternal health services and family planning shall be adequately provided to
ensure healthy pregnancies and prevent repeat pregnancies. Other health and
social services such as counseling and social protection interventions shall
be provided within this stream of strategies.

Establish school-based and community-based teen centers CPD, DepEd, LGUs
in all LGUs
Establish and provide adolescent-friendly health services DOH and LGUs

in all health facilities and other service delivery points
Train outreach teams to deliver ASRH services to DOH, CPD, LGUs

adolescents in the marginalized sectors and locations
Establish and utilize efficient information and knowledge DOH, DepEd, CPD, NYC, PCW,
base for ASRH services CWC and other government
agencies, LGUs

3. Promote and sustain youth development and participation initiatives at the
community level
Youth development initiatives shall be implemented to create an enabling

environment for young people to develop social, ethical, emotional, physical,
and cognitive competencies. It shall also promote approaches to improve
youth leadership and participation in the development of programs, strategies
and activities that can help them achieve their aspirations and potentials.

Capacitate SKs and LYDCs in developing and leading NYC, CWC, CPD, LGUs
responsive interventions on preventing adolescent
pregnancies
Sustainably create and conduct forum and other platforms NYC, SKs, LGUs
for dialogue between youth sector, government and
other youth sector on issues related to the prevention of
adolescent pregnancies
Strengthen community-based children and youth CWC, NYC, SKs, LGUs

organizations
Foster youth participation and leadership in schools and in DepEd, TESDA, CHED, LGUs
communities

58
SUPPORT LABOR FORCE EMPOWERMENT AND
CHAPTER 5 ACTIVE AND HEALTHY AGEING
Still within the life-cycle approach, the wellbeing

and development of the working age population or the
labor force, as the most economically productive segment
of the population, is critical in ensuring sustainable and
inclusive development among age groups. With effective
interventions during the formative years (i.e., childhood and
adolescence), healthy, educated and skilled human resources
can contribute to the socioeconomic development of the
country through optimal and quality employment and
participation in gainful economic activities. Demographic
barriers to productivity such as high fertility shall likewise be
addressed.
With the steadily increasing segment of older persons,

there is likewise a need to ensure an environment that
enables them to be active, healthy and productive. For this
purpose, the National Plan of Action for Senior Citizens shall
provide the strategic framework to ensure the promotion
and implementation of interventions that promote active
and healthy ageing.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
To contribute to the attainment of the wellbeing and development of the working

age and older persons the following specific actions shall be pursued:
1. Optimize the increasing proportion of the working age population. The

window of opportunity for economic growth in the country is reinforced by
the increasing proportion of the working age population. Such demographic
dividend can be attained if the socioeconomic preconditions such as improved
quality of the human resource and adequate opportunities for employment
and other income-earning activities are set in place both in the urban and
rural areas. The key actions that will be pursued to accelerate the attainment
of demographic dividend is discussed in the next Chapter.
2. Ensure the wellbeing of older persons. The government has to create

an enabling environment for older persons to enjoy their wellbeing and
development. Key actions for this shall be based on the strategic framework
laid out in the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens (PPASC) for 2019-
2022, which is aligned with the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA).
Such plans aim to achieve three main goals: 1) ensure the development and
empowerment of senior citizens; 2) advance the health and wellbeing of
senior citizens; and 3) ensure a supportive and enabling environment for
senior citizens. Specific actions include:


Lobby for the passage of a law providing for a geriatric OSCA, DOH, NCSC, Senate and
hospitals and improved infrastructure facilities House of Representatives
Ensure establishment and functioning OSCA in all localities NCSC, OSCA federations, and LGUs
Update the database on senior citizens NCSC, OSCA federations, and LGUs
Establish an effective pre-retirement program Employers, NCSC
Review and improve existing social protection for senior DSWD, NCSC, LGUs and CSOs
citizen, such as pension and anti-poverty programs for
older persons
Promote lifelong learning initiatives for older persons TESDA, DepEd, LGUs and CSOs
Create employment and income-earning capacity of older DOLE, private companies, DTI
persons including provision of micro-credit or financing
Develop and implement long-term health care program NCSC, DSWD, CPD, CSOs
within a family development framework (e.g., strengthening
and supporting families as health care providers for senior
citizens)
Development and design of long-term care insurance DOH, NCSC, PhilHealth

policy and mechanism for senior citizens
Create an inventory of home-based and facility-based NCSC, DSWD and private

services for older persons institutions, CSOs

62
INTEGRATE POPULATION AGENDA IN
CHAPTER 6 SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT
There is a need to explicitly integrate and take into

consideration population factors in various development
initiatives at different sectors, specifically, human resource
development, human settlement and employment.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
The following specific actions shall be pursued:
1. Integrate POPDEV issues and strategies in the sectoral development plans,

programs and strategies.
Continuing interagency dialogue shall be pursued to converge and harmonize

efforts towards ensuring that sectoral development initiatives are facilitative
of people-centered development. This involves the following actions:

Develop and implement capacity building of sectoral CPD, NEDA, DOH, DSWD, DA, DAR,
development planners and program managers on DILG, DOLE, CHED, DPWH, DENR,
integrated POPDEV approach to planning NAPC, TESDA, DepEd and LGUs
Develop and implement an integrated and converged CPD, NEDA, DOH, DOST, DA, DAR,
POPDEV strategies in the following key priority sectoral DHSUD, DPWH, DSWD, DILG,
development areas to support attainment of PDP expected DOLE, DENR, NAPC, CHED, TESDA,
results: DepEd, LGUs, and other concerned
• Human capital development (health and nutrition/ agencies
food sufficiency (hunger mitigation), education, skills
development)
• Human settlement/housing, urbanization, and
infrastructure development within the context of
urban and rural development
• Employment, livelihood and economic development
(i.e., poverty reduction), and
• Environmental management, climate change
adaptation and disaster risk reduction
Document emerging good practices in POPDEV integrated CPD

strategies for scaling-up

2. Adopt Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change (HMCCC) as a
strategy for POPDEV intersectoral approach
There is indeed an interconnection between population or human mobility

and climate change and other environmental factors. The integration of
HMCCC concepts in the climate change and disaster risk reduction and
management frameworks, urban agenda and rural development strategies
would require the cooperation of various agencies and sectors the Sub-
Committee on Internal Migration.

Institutionalize HMCCC relevant concepts and agenda in CPD, NEDA, CCC, LGA, OCD, DENR,
the revision of the national POPDEV policy DILG, DHSUD, and LGUs
• Inclusion of HMCCC as a strategic agenda of the SDC
Sub-Committee on Internal Migration
• Integration of HMCCC concepts in policy proposals to
the Executive and Legislative Bodies
Disseminate knowledge products CPD, PIA, DICT, UP, and other

• Updating and dissemination of CPD Knowledge Portal academic institutions
for HMCCC
• Development and dissemination of promotional
materials (e.g., print, AVPs and electronic or online
materials)

66
ACCELERATE INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
AMONG MARGINALIZED SECTORS
CHAPTER 7 OF THE POPULATION
The sustainable development goals and the ICPD

Programme of Action promote the inclusion of all people
across age groups, ethnicity, geographic location and other
characteristics and the promotion of universal access to
social and economic services. However, some segments of
the population remain underserved and incapacitated to
access needed services for their wellbeing and development
because of their poor socioeconomic conditions. These
include the urban and rural poor, indigenous people,
persons with disabilities, older persons, children, those in
the informal economy and living in geographically isolated
and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
1. Enhance the enabling policy and program environment and capabilities of

indigenous people to access needed information and services
Given the distinct population and development situation of the indigenous

people, a context-based and participatory policy and program interventions
will promote their wellbeing including their rights to manage their lands
and natural resources or ecosystems on which they depend. This requires
mainstreaming regional and local development plans and programs.

Develop and implement an interagency and multisectoral NCIP, DILG, DSWD, DOH and other
convergence of sustainable and strategic initiatives national government agencies,
for indigenous people in consultation with affected LGUs and CSOs
communities
• Prioritize and include indigenous people in poverty
reduction and social protection strategies (e.g.,
Pantawid Program, livelihood)
• Improve delivery systems for social and economic
services
Review and strengthen existing laws and policies for NCIP, Congress of the Philippines,
indigenous people and communities to further protect CSOs and LGUs
and fulfill their human rights and wellbeing

people with disabilities to access needed information and services.
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) continue to form a significant part of the

country’s population. While there are existing legislations to promote the
wellbeing and rights of PWDs, there remains significant gaps in terms of
measures to prevent and rehabilitate disability to improve participation and
inclusive development among this special group.

Develop and implement an interagency and multisectoral NCDA, DILG, DSWD, DOH and
convergence of sustainable and strategic initiatives for other national government
PWDs in consultation with affected groups of population agencies, LGUs and CSOs
• Prioritize and include PWDs in poverty reduction and
social protection strategies (e.g., Pantawid Program,
livelihood)
services
Enforce existing laws and policies for PWDs to support NCDA, Congress of the Philippines,
their capabilities to access needed services CSOs and LGUs

people belonging to the informal economy, urban and rural poor to access
needed information and services
The promotion of decent work for all workers, women and men, irrespective
of where they work, requires a broad strategy which includes the recognition
of the fundamental principles and rights at work, creation of greater and
better employment and income opportunities, extending social protection,
and promoting social dialogue. These dimensions of decent work reinforce
each other and comprise an integrated poverty reduction strategy.
Many Filipinos work in the informal economy because of the dearth of

opportunities and capacities for them to find other jobs or start businesses in
the formal economy. Improving the income-earning capacity and wellbeing
of those in the informal sector is a critical action needed to fully attain
demographic dividend in the country.

Create an enabling policy environment to promote the DOLE, DTI, NAPC, LGUs and CSOs
fundamental principles and rights at work for the labor
force regardless of their institutional arrangements
Improve strategies and mechanisms for workers in the DOH, CPD, LGUs, CSOs
informal economy to access primary health care including
family planning and reproductive health services
Develop and implement an interagency and multisectoral NAPC, DOLE, DSWD, LGUs
convergence of sustainable and strategic initiatives for
workers in the informal economy in consultation with
affected groups of population
• Include workers in information economy in poverty
reduction and social protection strategies (e.g.,
Pantawid Program, livelihood)
services to this segment of population

70
STRENGTHEN PEOPLE-CENTERED REGIONAL
CHAPTER 8 AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
While the demographic landscape at the national

level reflects some significant opportunities for accelerated
socioeconomic development, significant disparities can
be observed across regions. Concomitant with these
demographic differences is also the disparity in the level of
socioeconomic development where the more populated
regions of National Capital Region (NCR), CALABARZON and
Central Luzon have the share of more than one-third of the
regional gross domestic product (RGDP). Given the more
developed conditions in these regions, people searching for
better economic opportunities are pulled into these areas,
affecting the level of human resource and productivity in the
sending areas. These necessitate fostering more balanced
and equitable regional development by addressing emerging
demographic issues specific to each region.
Moreover, given the reinforced devolution policy

through the implementation of the Supreme Court’s
Mandanas-Garcia ruling through Executive Order No. 138,
local government units have become more accountable in the
management of their population vis-à-vis their development
agenda. As such, local governments should be more
conscious and capable of addressing emerging population
issues to ensure that they achieve population outcomes that
foster inclusive development of their constituents and their
locality.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
1. Integrate POPDEV issues and strategies into Regional Development Plans

(RDPs) and in regional sectoral initiatives
At the regional level, population issues shall be integrated into the formulation,
implementation and assessment of plans, policies and programs to contribute
to more sustainable and equitable development. Regional development
planning shall be the platform for understanding the interprovincial and
inter-local population issues in the design of the overall regional development
framework.
This also involves the capacity building or learning activities for local
stakeholders in understanding and addressing population issues as they relate
to local development concerns in the local development plans and policies.

Enhance the data and information system on POPDEV CPD, NEDA, DILG, PSA, PIDS,
to inform integrated and comprehensive development Academe
planning
Integrate of POPDEV dimensions in Regional Development CPD, NEDA, RDCs, and regional
Plans through: interagency bodies
• Develop capacity building programs for members of
the RDCs and other regional coordinative bodies
• Analyze and utilize POPDEV interrelationships at
the regional level in the development of POPDEV
integrated programs to be included in the RDPs or
other regional plans
Develop, implement and evaluate local POPDEV CPD, NEDA, DOH, RDCs and
integrated strategies on population and health, education, regional line agencies
employment, environment, etc.,
Promotion of interagency convergence programs CPD, NEDA, DOH, RDCs and
(e.g., population and environment; population and regional line agencies
environment, etc.) through regular inter-agency meetings.
Develop and implement of analytical tools and CPD

methodologies for POPDEV integration at the regional level
Establish local POPDEV structure to ensure coordination CPD, LGUs

and management of local POPDEV programs and
initiatives

2. Strengthen capacities of local government units in the management and
implementation of responsible family planning program and development
Since local government units (LGUs) are at the forefront of ensuring the
availability and access to family planning information and services, they
should be capacitated to take steps to meet the family planning needs of
their constituents and to ensure universal access to a full range of legal, safe,
affordable and acceptable family planning information and services.

Establish functional and efficient coordinative, DOH, CPD and LGUs
management and implementing structures (e.g.,
population office, local implementation teams) at the local
level
Institute and improve enabling policies for the promotion LGUs, CPD, DOH
and implementation of responsible parenthood and
family planning
Increase local investment for RPFP and reproductive LGUs, development partners,
health private sector, CPD and DOH
Conduct competency assessment and development LGUs, CPD, DOH and development
inter-ventions among local program managers and partners
implementers
Establish and use database and information system on LGUs, CPD, DOH
RPFP for more efficient program management at the local
level
Improve delivery mechanisms and quality of family LGUs

planning services
Engage CSOs, people’s organizations and private LGUs, CSOs, PSSC, POs, and private
institutions by implementing collaborative projects institutions

74
FOSTER INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP AND
CHAPTER 9 COLLABORATION ON POPDEV
The Philippines can benchmark and benefit from

the experiences of various countries in addressing and
managing their population situation as a key factor in
their national development. Lessons from them can
inform population and development policymaking and
program development in our country. Hence, an effective
knowledge-sharing platform has to be established and
sustained with various countries.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
1. Use knowledge-sharing platforms to sustain south-south cooperation

between and among countries with basically similar demographic conditions
and successful POPDEV approaches, policies and interventions which the
Philippines can adopt
2. Actively participate in international conferences and dialogue on population

and development towards reaching viable consensus that addresses global
POPDEV issues
3. Draw a meaningful and responsive mechanism or framework of cooperation

between the country and various development partners in pursuing the
agenda set in this PPD-POA and in addressing emerging population issues as
they relate to different development concerns
4. Gain full support and assistance from development partners on population

and development to include the mechanisms for the transfer of technology
towards national capacity development, ownership and self-reliance of
involved local institutions and agencies
5. Establish international cooperation and partnership in improving the research

and knowledge base on POPDEV interrelationships in the country and in
relation to the POPDEV issues within the region or other countries

76
INTENSIFY POPDEV RESEARCH AND
CHAPTER 10 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Valid, reliable, timely, comprehensive, culturally-

relevant and internationally comparable data and information
serve as bases for policy, program and plan formulation,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation. While there
is available population and development baseline data and
information, important gaps in the quality and coverage
including vital data on births and deaths, as well as continuity
of datasets over time remain. Gender and ethnicity-specific
information, which are crucial in monitoring and enhancing
the sensitivity of development policies and programs, are still
insufficient at all levels. Measurement of internal migration,
which is increasingly becoming an important driver of
urbanization in the country, also needs more systematic,
consistent and sustained mechanisms for data gathering
and analysis. Researches and studies on population and
development have likewise become outdated owing to the
declining investments for such endeavors.
The importance of knowledge, data and information

in planning, policymaking and program development in
exploring the actual needs, situation and aspirations of
the people heightens the need to improve research and
information or knowledge systems.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
1. Set-up and implement POPDEV Research Agenda
To continuously improve the existing body of knowledge on population and

development interrelationships as bases for medium to long-term planning
and policy formulation, there is a need to develop a comprehensive POPDEV
research agenda that will be pursued to fill-in the identified knowledge gaps.

Review existing literature, studies and researches on CPD, UPPI, PSSC, UP, and other
POPDEV to identify gaps academic institutions
Develop medium-term POPDEV research agenda CPD, NEDA/PIDS, PSRTI, PSA,

DOST, UP, PSSC and other
academic institutions
Conduct and disseminate POPDEV researches and studies CPD, NEDA/PIDS, PSRTI, PSA,
• Partnership with the Academe and other research DOST, UP, PSSC and other
institutions academic institutions
Develop policy briefs and program proposals based on the CPD, UP, PSSC and other academic
results of the POPDEV research and studies institutions
Organize and support POPDEV scientific forum and CPD, PIDS, UPPI, UP, PSSC and
conferences for the discussion of latest researches and other academic institutions
studies including publication of journals and scientific
papers

2. Establish and enhance data and information base for marginalized sectors
To better understand the needs and development conditions of the various

segments of the population belonging to marginalized and underserved
sectors, there is a need to establish and enhance the existing registry or
database for them to support policy, program and strategy development.

Conduct researches and studies including impact NCIP, NCDA, PCUP, NAPC, CSOs,
assessments (qualitative and quantitative) on the PSSC and POs, LGUs, CPD,
reproductive health, social, economic and development Academe
needs and issues of the marginalized groups
3. Establish and improve database, information system and knowledge on

RPFP for more efficient program management at all levels
This is needed to inform decision-making processes at all levels. This

involves the following actions:

Conduct, analyze and disseminate of relevant quantitative DepEd, TESDA, CHED, UP, PSSC
and qualitative researches and studies on RPRP and and other academic institutions
reproductive health
Develop and conduct monitoring and evaluation of the CPD, DOH and LGUs and
national, regional and local population and development coordinative bodies
programs

80
PART III:
ENABLING
ENVIRONMENT
With all the strategies identified to achieve the goal
of the PPD-POA, it is imperative to lay down the facilitating
conditions to expedite its success. To create the proper
environment in accomplishing the PPD-POA, first and
foremost is the existence of legal frameworks that provide
the mandate, policies and mechanisms. These legislative
agenda enhance population and development programs
and pave the way for smooth processes.
Establishing POPDEV data, information and knowledge

for evidence-based and informed decision making for
population and development governance will hopefully
address the perennial problem of limited resources as this
will allow more targeted and responsive policy-making,
program planning and service delivery.
Next, is the practice of good governance and a strong

leadership to nurture the principles of participation,
transparency, accountability, efficiency, and social
responsibility. These principles warrant equal access to
opportunities among the population and ensure that social
services are inclusively provided to them.
Also, the establishment of collaborative mechanisms

among stakeholders for the implementation of PPD-POA
becomes a key consideration for its success.
IMPROVE POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR
CHAPTER 11 POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The government will set the necessary POPDEV policies

and environment to achieve the targets set in the PPD-POA.
The Memorandum Circular No. 40 series of 2023, issued
by the President directing all government nstrumentalities
to adopt and align agency plans, roadmaps, and budgeting
programs with the PPD-POA , is an initial policy issuance
that sets enabling environment for POPDEV.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
This strategy will be achieved through a review and improvement of existing

national POPDEV policy and advocacy by making an inventory and analysis of all
POPDEV-related policies to identify the policy gaps.
Enriched by a consultative process, a POPDEV policy agenda and advocacy

shall be formulated and advocated in the Congress. For sustainability of the
strategies of the PPD-POA, appropriate legal mechanisms and policies must be
passed within the period 2023-2028. The following POPDEV policy agenda shall be
pursued within the current Congress:
1. Strengthening the mandate and functions of the CPD. The current population
policy (PD 79 and reiterated by EO 71) will be updated to identify the structure
and implementing mechanisms required for the attainment of the national
population and development goals in support of the socioeconomic agenda
of the country.
2. Make mandatory the establishment of local structures for population and

development. For the plan of action to be actualized on the ground, strong
and appropriately funded structures need to be established.
• Mandatory establishment of local population and development Offices

• Institutionalizing Barangay Population Workers (BPWs)
• Inclusion of the establishment of population offices and teen centers in
the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)
3. Institutionalize the provisions of EO 141 to improve access of adolescents

to ASRH services. Strengthen the implementation of CSE in Basic Education
through the adoption of a national policy on the prevention of adolescent
pregnancy.

84
STRENGTHEN GOOD GOVERNANCE
CHAPTER 12 AND LEADERSHIP MECHANISMS
FOR POPDEV
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
The following actions will be pursued:
1. Capacitate national and local leaders to consciously promote population

agenda in their development initiatives. This strategy entails a continuing
advocacy and capacity building among national, sectoral, regional and local
institutions in development planning and program formulation through
POPDEV or people-centered approach to planning. It includes the nurturing
of advocates and champions on POPDEV to promote relevant population
agenda whether in legislative or executive arena.
2. Encourage local ownership of POPDEV strategies. Through leadership

programs and continuous advocacy efforts, the awareness and support of
local chief executives, legislators and decision makers shall be harnessed.
With the help of national and local champions, population and development
strategies shall be promoted as a key component of local governance.
3. Increase investment for POPDEV strategies. Resources for POPDEV strategies

both at the national and local levels shall also be pursued through relentless
lobbying efforts. To integrate POPDEV strategies in local development
plans and budget requires technical assistance to LGUs in identifying and
understanding the impact of population on their development plans and in
investing in people for sustainable development.
4. Establish and utilize demographic information to improve development

planning, policies and services as part of evidence-based governance. To
promote greater efficiency in resource allocation, improve equitable impact
of programs and other interventions, evidence-based planning, program and
policy development shall be pursued.
5. Enhance mechanisms for the participation of CSOs and private institutions.

As critical partners, CSOs and the private sector shall be mobilized to
contribute in pursuing the POPDEV agenda at all levels. The CSOs and private
sector shall be engaged from the design to implementation and assessment of
POPDEV programs at the national, regional and local levels.

86
ESTABLISH DATA, INFORMATION AND
CHAPTER 13 KNOWLEDGE FOR EVIDENCE-BASED
DECISION MAKING FOR POPULATION AND
DEVELOPMENT GOVERNANCE
To build knowledge on key areas of concern for population

and development for evidenced-based and informed decision
making, this accompanying Population and Development
(POPDEV) Research Agenda for 2023-2028 will be pursued.
Results of the priority researches will serve as inputs to a more
responsive policy-making, program planning, and service
delivery, toward securing the demographic dividend and the
empowerment of Filipino families and communities.
The research areas for prioritization will address current

situation with particular consideration of the economic,
societal, and environmental circumstances of the country.
Completion of the research agenda will contribute to
addressing the knowledge gaps in research, program planning
and implementation, and policy making for population and
development. Engagement and participation of various
institutions and individuals from the government, academe,
and private sector in implementing the research agenda would
create a multi-perspective and interdisciplinary approach to
answering POPDEV issues and concerns.
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT (POPDEV) RESEARCH AGENDA, 2023-2028
2023-2024 • Determinants of declining fertility in the Philippines

• Patterns and determinants of nuptiality and cohabitation in the
Philippines
• Assessment of the Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling
(PMOC) Program
• Updated study of estimating demographic dividend through
support ratio
2024-2025 • Study to provide estimation methods, baseline data,

determination of data collection for mainstreaming for
indicators in the PPD-POA re-sults matrix: Fertility rate among
workers in the formal and informal sector, mCPR among
workers in the formal and informal sector, No. of institutions
(NGAs) that explicitly integrated evidence-based concerns of
marginalized population in their sectoral strategies
• Quantifying the contribution of demographic dividend in
accelerating economic growth and poverty reduction at the
regional and provincial level
• Establishing methodology for estimating day-time population
for urban development planning
• Population projection at the municipal/city level using
probability and other alternative methods
• Longitudinal study on the demographic behaviors of Filipinos
through their life-course
• Cost-benefit analysis of investing in a local population and
develop-ment program
2025-2026 • Assessment of CPD Devolution Transition Plan

• Population and development linkages, national and regional
a. Internal migration and infrastructure/urban development
connections (urban demographics)
b. Demographic determinants of health outcomes in the
Philippines
c. Demographic determinants of employment outcomes in
the Philippines
2026-2027 • Study on the demographic dimensions of inequality in regional

economic development
• Study on the demographic and socioeconomic conditions of
indigenous people
• Study on the demographic and socioeconomic conditions of
workers in the informal economy
2027-2028 • M&E final report on PPD-POA 2023-2028

88
ESTABLISH PARTICIPATORY MONITORING AND
CHAPTER 14 EVALUATION AND LEARNING MECHANISMS
PPD-POA takes careful consideration of the need to

establish participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) as
an important approach to build trust, increase accountability,
and promote participation, ownership and learning among
government agencies, civil society organizations, the private
sector, and the public. PPD-POA will incorporate PM&E
mechanisms into various levels of implementation to engage
stakeholders in monitoring or evaluating the above-mentioned
PAPs, share control over the results, and engage in taking or
identifying corrective actions. This will enable stakeholders
to reflect on successes, best practices and opportunities for
improvement, and to inform future planning.
Consistent with CPD’s Devolution Transition Plan section

VI, the PPD-POA shall undertake the following strategies
to efficiently monitor and assess both the capabilities and
performance of the government in relation to strategies and
plans laid out.
SPECIFIC ACTIONS
1. Document good processes and practices. This is necessary to build

models for efficient and effective implementation of PPD-POA strategies
and plans.
2. Incentive and rewards mechanisms. CPD as the lead agency shall

continue to build an enabling environment for stakeholders to own
and implement the strategies and plans of the PPD-POA. Strategies for
this shall include the development and implementation of incentive
and rewards mechanisms such as the Kaunlarang Pantao Award (KPA)
which recognizes LGUs and institutions including CSOs that provided
significant contributions in advancing the population and development
agenda in their respective levels.
3. Develop and implement the PM&E timetable. PM&E activities shall

be strategically scheduled together with selected partner agencies and
beneficiaries. Data collection, analysis, and reporting activities can
take the form of a workshop, Roundtable Discussion, or Community
Scorecard for the purpose of bringing out the PPD-POA’s annual
achievements and directions. The annual monitoring shall be regarded
as a formative evaluation that allows for changes in approaches and other
interventions.

90
PHILIPPINE POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF ACTION FOR 2023-2028 (PPD-POA 2023-2038)
RESULTS MATRIX

92
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98
APPENDICES

100
APPENDIX A. TOTAL POPULATION, URBAN
POPULATION, AND PERCENT URBAN BY
REGION, PHILIPPINES, 2020 AND 2015

APPENDIX B. BARANGAYS WITH NEGATIVE
POPULATION GROWTH RATE, BY REGION

102
APPENDIX C. PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION
OF CURRENTLY MARRIED WOMEN DEMAND
FOR FAMILY PLANNING SATISFIED BY
MODERN FAMILY PLANNING METHODS BY
BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS,
2017 AND 2022
Source: NDHS, 2017, 2022

APPENDIX D. CURRENT USE OF FAMILY
PLANNING METHODS BY REGION,
2017 AND 2022
APPENDIX E. NUMBER OF ADOLESCENT

MOTHERS AND REGISTERED ADOLESCENT
BIRTHS BY BIRTH ORDER, 2016-2021

104
APPENDIX F. INTEGRATE POVERTY INCIDENCE
AMONG FAMILIES, BY REGION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

106
The PPD-POA 2023-2028 is the result of systematic and extensive consultations
and collaboration with various government agencies, the private sector, civil
society organizations, academe, and development partners. We are grateful to the
distinguished members of the Board of Commissioners of the Commission on
Population and Development for providing high-level policy advice and multi-
sectoral insights.
Special thanks are due to the UNFPA, with its evidenced-based policy notes and
suggestions on many thematic areas. We are also grateful to the following institutions
who generously shared their time and expertise to ensure that the best versions of
the assessments and strategies in the PPD-POA were completed on time:
1. Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC)

2. Department of Agriculture (DA)
3. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
4. Department of Education (DepEd)
5. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
6. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
7. Department of Health (DOH)
8. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
9. Department of Justice (DOJ)
10. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
11. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
12. Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
13. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD)
14. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
15. Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCD Council)
16. Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC)
17. Land Management Bureau (LMB)
18. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC)
19. National Commission for Senior Citizen (NCSC)
20. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
21. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF)
22. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
23. National Food Authority (NFA)
24. National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)
25. National Nutrition Council (NNC)
26. National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC)
27. National Youth Council (NYC)
28. Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)
29. Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)
30. Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC)
31. Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute (PSRTI)
32. Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP)
33. Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
34. Social Security System (SSS)
35. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
36. UP Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH)
37. UP Population Institute (UPPI)

38. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
39. European Union (EU)
40. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
41. United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
42. Friendly Care Foundation Inc.
43. Health Futures Foundation, Inc.
44. Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, Inc.
45. ParaBukas
46. PATH Foundation Philippines
47. Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development
48. Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (Foundation), Inc.
49. Philippine Social Science Council
50. Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood, Inc.
51. The FORUM
52. USAID-Reach Health
The timely production and publication of the PPD-POA would not have been
possible without the efforts and insights of Sarah Jalilul, Elma Laguna, Lourdes Portus,
Lisa Grace Bersales Ph.D., Lolito Tacardon, Wilson Villones, Rolagenia Reyes and Rosa
Blanca Enrique.

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The development of this document was through the support of the

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Philippine Country Office.

I wish you the best in your endeavors.

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

As our economy undergoes a demographic transition—with our working-age population growing

Arsenio M. Balisacan, Ph.D.

Lisa Grace S. Bersales, Ph.D.

The Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action 2023-

PPD-POA highlights the significant shift of the country’s population

PPD-POA is the overall Plan of Action for the individuals, families

Memorandum Circular No. 40 ii

Chapter 2 | Our Strategic Framework 30

Our Guiding Principles 31

Part II: Our Plan of Action 40

Chapter 5 | Support Labor Force Empowerment and

Chapter 6 | Integrate Population Agenda in Sectoral

Chapter 8 | Strengthen People-Centered Regional and 72

Chapter 9 | Foster International Partnership and 75

Chapter 10 | Intensify POPDEV Research and Knowledge 78

Part III: Enabling Environment 82

Chapter 12 | Strengthen Good Governance and

Chapter 13 | Establish data, information and knowledge

Population and Development (POPDEV) Research

Chapter 14 | Establish Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation

Table 1. Labor Force Participation Rate by Sex,

Figure 1. Population size and growth rate from

Intergenerational Poverty - sometimes referred to as the “Cycle of Poverty”, intergenerational poverty

Vital Statistics - are statistics referring to births, deaths and marriages.

4Ps Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

AHD Adolescent Health and Development

ALS Alternative Learning System

APIS Annual Poverty Indicator Survey

ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations

ASFR Age-specific Fertility Rate

ASRH Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

AVPs Audio-Visual Presentations

BARMM Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

CALABARZON Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon

CAR Cordillera Administrative Region

CBMS Community-based Monitoring System

CHR Commission on Human Rights

CPD Commission on Population and Development

CPH Census of Population and Housing

CPR Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

CRVS Civil Registration and Vital Statistics

CSE Comprehensive Sexuality Education

CSOs Civil Society Organizations

CWC Council for the Welfare of Children

DepEd Department of Education

DOH Department of Health

DOST Department of Science and Technology

DOST-FNRI DOST – Food and Nutrition Research Institute

DSWD Department of Social Welfare and Development

FDS Family Development Session

THE PHILIPPINE POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF ACTION | 2023-2028

GIDA Geographically-Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas

GNI Gross National Income

HMCCC Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change

ICF International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health