MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved the “full and intensified” implementation plan for the government’s national program on family planning.
“The key strategy is the use of effective modern contraceptives where 11.3 million women would be given access to over the next four years. The aim is to increase the usage thereof from 40% to 65%,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement.
Mr. Panelo said the President approved the “the full and intensified Implementation Plan for the National Program on Family Planning” during the Cabinet meeting on Monday, March 4, after it was presented by the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, and Executive Director of the Commission on Population and Development, Juan Antonio A. Perez III.
He added: “The approval of the aforesaid plan is expected to reduce poverty incidence in the country, which currently has the highest fertility rate and fastest growing population in the ASEAN region,” Mr. Panelo said. Poverty is expected to drop “from the current 20% to 14% in 2022, the year PRRD (Mr. Duterte) steps down from office. Aside from poverty reduction, the plan equally aims to promote better health and socioeconomic development among Filipinos.”
Mr. Panelo also said the government understands that “a great majority of Filipinos favor family planning but not all of them have access to contraceptives for various reasons.”
“Accordingly, the government is here to respond and help those who wish to undergo family planning,” he said further.
Also during the Cabinet meeting, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo D. Del Rosario, according to Mr. Panelo, “thanked the President for the creation of a housing department.”
“The President further approved the proposed construction of 31 Evacuation Centers in six provinces from Region V,” he said.
The President was also updated on the actions taken by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to streamline the land-use conversion process.
“After the issuance of an executive order, DAR will be able to process land conversion within 30 days compared to the previous 190 days,” Mr. Panelo said.
DAR, he added, was instructed to submit the complete staff work to the Office of the Executive Secretary. — Arjay L. Balinbin
