BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB-CAR) successfully conducted the first Regional Conference on Population and Family Planning on June 27-28 at the Plaza Garden Hotel. The conference, themed “Family Planning and Population and Development: Innovate, Collaborate, and Accelerate,” brought together regional line agencies, local government units, academic institutions, and private sector representatives to discuss pressing family planning and population development issues and research in the Cordillera.
RPEB-CAR Chairperson Director Susan Sumbeling underscored the importance of data-driven policy and decision-making to leverage the region’s demographic advantage.
The Cordillera is one of the few regions in the country poised to achieve the demographic dividend due to its greater proportion of working-age population compared to its dependent population. However, Sumbeling stressed that the region’s potential can only be realized through strategic policies and investments that enhance the workforce’s skills and ensure access to basic services.
Guest speaker Lolito Tacardon, Executive Director of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) discussed the factors contributing to the declining fertility rates among women in the country, including in the Cordillera. He pointed to social and economic conditions, as well as crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which have influenced women’s reproductive choices. Tacardon emphasized that “development is the greatest contraceptive,” advocating for a holistic approach to family planning and the promotion of FP programs as long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of crisis situations.
Several regional line agencies also provided updates on the FP and POPDEV situation in the region. The Department of Health-CAR reported a decrease in the unmet need for family planning from 2022 to 2023, with pills being the most commonly used modern FP method.
Improvements in maternal and child health outcomes were also noted. CPD-CAR Director Cecile Basawil highlighted the critical role of education and economic status in influencing fertility rates. She reported that from 2022 to 2023, CPD-CAR signed partnership agreements with 34 local government units to implement the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action.
A key highlight of the conference was the presentation of FP and POPDEV research and best practices by representatives from the Benguet State University, UP Population Institute, and city government. The researchers presented at the conference will be considered for presentation at the National Conference on Population and Family Planning later this year.
The RPEB-CAR is a support committee of the Cordillera Regional Development Council formed to coordinate the planning and implementation of population management and migration policies, programs, projects, and activities in the region. The NEDA-CAR serves as the Chairperson of the committee, while Cordillera Women’s Education, Action Research Center serves as Co-Chairperson, and CPD-CAR as Vice-Chairperson. By Kathleen D. Loste