CPD Region IX

𝐂𝐏𝐃 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐗 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐃𝐄𝐕 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐮 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞

JOLO, SULU - The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region IX successfully concluded the first batch of the 2 and half-day Capacity Development on the Localization and Operationalization of Local Population and Development (POPDEV) Programs for the Province of Sulu on June 1-3, 2026.

The activity gathered key representatives from the local government units (LGUs) of Jolo, Indanan, Maimbung, Omar, Talipao, Patikul, and the Provincial Government of Sulu to strengthen their capacities in integrating population and development concerns into local governance and development planning.

The training aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of local planners, program implementers, and decision-makers in incorporating POPDEV strategies into local plans, programs, and policies. It also provided participants with practical tools and approaches for evidence-based planning to effectively address the population and development challenges of their respective municipalities.

Throughout the activity, participants actively engaged in lectures, workshops, and planning sessions focused on POPDEV concepts, localization processes, and strategies for operationalizing POPDEV programs at the local level.

The sessions enabled LGUs to assess their demographic situations, identify key development challenges and opportunities, and formulate responsive interventions aligned with national and regional development priorities.

The successful completion of the first batch marks a significant milestone in CPD Region IX’s continuing efforts to strengthen local capacities and promote the integration of population and development perspectives in local governance. Two more batches are slated next month to complete all LGUs in the province.

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐌. 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐨 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 (𝐑𝐌𝐒𝐊𝐏𝐀)

𝐂𝐏𝐃 𝐈𝐗 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region IX, represented by Maryrose Y. Yu, POPDEV Localization Coordinator for Zamboanga, Basilan, and Sulu, participated in the Family Planning Mobile Outreach Services conducted by The Challenge Initiative (TCI)-Zuellig Family Foundation in collaboration with the City Leadership Team (CLT) of Zamboanga City on May 26 and 29, 2026.

The outreach activities were carried out in three selected health districts in the city—Barangays San Roque, Bunguiao, and Recodo—with the goal of bringing family planning services closer to communities and ensuring that eligible clients receive accurate information and appropriate reproductive health services.

The initiative focused on providing family planning counseling, information dissemination, and access to modern contraceptive methods, particularly for women of reproductive age. It also aimed to strengthen demand generation efforts, improve access to quality family planning services, and promote informed decision-making on reproductive health among community members.

Through collaborative outreach efforts, the activity contributed to advancing reproductive health outcomes and supporting the city's commitment to ensuring that family planning services are accessible, responsive, and client-centered.

CPD Region IX remains committed to supporting its partners and stakeholders in implementing population and development programs, while ensuring that essential reproductive health services reach and benefit intended populations, especially those in underserved communities.

🔐 It's Privacy Awareness Week 2026!

Theme: "ANAMNESIS: Looking Back and Moving Forward"

The CPD joins the nation in promoting a culture of privacy and . We remain committed to transparency, security, and the Data Privacy Act.

Let us work together to build a culture of privacy and trust for every Filipino family and community.

🔗 Learn more: https://privacy.gov.ph/paw2026/

𝐂𝐏𝐃 𝐈𝐗 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐃𝐄𝐕 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐇𝐃 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐍𝐃𝐇𝐒 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦

On May 28, 2026, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region IX, led by Regional Director EnP. Leticia Dolores II C. Abao, participated in the Regional Dissemination Forum on Key Indicators of the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) organized by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region IX.

The forum presented key findings and policy implications on priority population and health concerns, including child health and development, maternal care, family planning and fertility, domestic violence, and child immunization. The activity served as an important platform for translating updated demographic and health data into responsive and evidence-based policies and programs for Region IX.

As one of the resource speakers, RD Abao highlighted that Region IX is already entering the late stage of demographic transition, where declining fertility levels may create opportunities for a demographic dividend—provided that strong investments in education, health, employment, and skills development are sustained. She emphasized the importance of promoting a balanced fertility framework anchored on reproductive rights, informed choice, and socioeconomic security.

During the open forum, RD Abao further underscored that family planning (FP) is fundamentally about informed and voluntary choices of couples regarding their fertility intentions—whether to have children, delay, space, or limit births. She stressed that the role of both government and the private sector is not only to ensure the availability of FP commodities and improve access to quality reproductive health services, but also to support a “wholistic continuum of care” approach as part of life planning and responsible parenthood.

She also clarified a common misconception that CPD’s mandate is solely focused on controlling or limiting population size, which may influence how some sectors perceive population targets and projections in education and other social services. RD Abao explained that while earlier population programs during the 1960s under the former POPCOM primarily addressed rapid population growth, the country’s population program has significantly evolved over the decades toward a rights-based, voluntarism, and informed-choice approach. This shift places primary importance on creating an enabling environment that strengthens reproductive agency and empowers individuals and couples to make free and informed decisions.

On adolescent health concerns, RD Abao emphasized that Region IX continues to record the highest adolescent birth rate in the country at 9.3 percent among girls aged 15 to 19. She noted that this remains closely linked to persistent poverty challenges in the region, reinforcing that adolescent pregnancy is not only a health issue but also a broader population and development concern tied to inequality, limited opportunities, and social vulnerability.

To address these challenges, RD Abao presented the FOCUS Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) Framework 2026–2028, a regional multisectoral framework anchored on five strategic pillars: comprehensive reproductive health education and life skills development; adolescent-friendly health and social services; social protection and economic support; safe and supportive environments; and strengthened data-driven governance. She likewise highlighted the Regional Development Council (RDC)-backed three-year development agenda aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy and improving overall adolescent health and development outcomes in Region IX.

She emphasized that addressing adolescent pregnancy and related population and development concerns requires convergence through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, development partners, families, and communities.

Resource speakers from the Department of Health Region IX and Zamboanga City Medical Center also shared insights and updates on improving maternal care, expanding immunization coverage, and strengthening child health and development interventions based on the NDHS findings.

The forum reinforced the importance of data-driven governance, inter-agency collaboration, and evidence-based planning in addressing emerging population and development challenges and advancing the overall health and well-being of communities in Region IX.

Pursuant to the Department’s mandate to promote adolescent and youth development, the DILG disseminates the “𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴” for the guidance and information of all DILG Regional and Field Offices.

Developed by the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗖𝗣𝗗) together with the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 pursuant to 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟰𝟭, 𝘀. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭, the CAP adopts a whole-of-government approach in addressing the multifaceted factors behind adolescent pregnancies.

Anchored on the vision of nurturing well-informed, empowered, healthy, and responsible adolescents, the CAP highlights five key strategic areas: Reproductive Health Education, access to RH and social services, preventive and protective measures, socioeconomic and social protection interventions, and child and youth participation and development.

Scan the QR Code to access the Primer or visit https://bit.ly/Primer-AdolesccentPregnancy

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(𝗗𝗜𝗟𝗚 𝗜𝗫 𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗧)