The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) wants women to be more empowered in decision-making, particularly in planning their ideal size of family to ensure better opportunities for their children.
Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales of CPD said that a lower fertility rate is observed among women who have attained a higher educational level than those who have not.
Even though the government does not impose an ideal number of children that each family should have, CPD still works on information dissemination to help women with their choices and decisions.
“Ang mga kababaihan na kailangan natin makausap at mabigyan ng tamang impormasyon ay ‘yong mga kababaihan na may mababang level of education…no formal schooling. Marami pa rin at saka hindi nakapagtapos ng high school– iyong mga kababaihan na nasa poverty,” she said.
(The women we need to talk to and be given the right information are those with a low level of education…no formal schooling. There are still those who did not graduate from high school– those women who are in poverty.)
Citing civil registration statistics, the Commission also observed changes in family structures that should also be discussed and considered in making decisions, such as cohabitation and solo parenting.
It is important for a couple to think thoroughly about whether their preferred number of children would have fair chances of getting a proper education, good health, and all possible opportunities for children to develop themselves.
“Underlying the issue of women are women empowerment, women rights, and the choice of women. We are very proud that the Philippines is among the highest in the gender index, so as a whole, in the Philippines, with Magna Carta for women and VAWC desks in municipalities, women are doing okay, but there are women left behind,” she said.
Information campaign
The commission said to connect with the communities through the assistance of different local government units, believing that those women who are more in need of guidance belong in the vulnerable sector. Bersales said that most of the women they need to connect with belong to sectors of farming, fisheries, and households in poverty.
The conduct of regional and national conferences on family planning helps CPD connect with stakeholders, who are partners in reaching the grassroots.
CPD also works with the Department of Education (DepEd) to promote early exposure of youth to sexuality education by incorporating the topic of comprehensive sexuality education (SEC) in class.
During the recent regional conference on family planning facilitated by CPD Mimaropa, Bersales said it is only the woman who can determine for herself the ideal number of children she can have. However, men still have a huge influence on decisions made by women, as statistics showed, she added.
Even though the Commission advocates the strengthening of information dissemination among women in the vulnerable sector, Bersales said that CPD programs do not neglect the issues faced by men.
It implements partnerships and conducts research and data as strategies to support the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action. It is the government’s overall blueprint for managing the country’s demographic situation and addressing interrelated population and development issues.
CPD Regional Director Reynaldo Wong shared views with Bersales, emphasizing that having an agreed number of children that a couple can raise properly will help attain development.
“Wala tayong dinidikta o policy na tatlo o dalawang anak lang. Ang isinusulong ay voluntary at kung ano ang makabubuti at napag-usapan nilang mag-asawa. Iyon ang ating pinopromote sabay ng natural and artificial modern family planning,” Wong said.
(We don’t dictate or have a policy of only three or two children only. What is being promoted is voluntary and what is good and discussed by the couple. That is what we promote together with natural and artificial modern family planning.)
Some of the papers from the regional conference will be forwarded to the national conference of the Commission in August. The conduct of the conference will also strengthen collaboration with civil society groups, higher education institutions, and local government units in strengthening family planning programs, Wong added.
Drop in fertility rate
The Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) revealed that the total fertility rate (TFR) of Filipino women aged 15 to 49 is 1.9 children, down from 2.7 children in 2017. It is the sharpest decline recorded in the TFR, said CPD.
Despite the observed higher number of children in the vulnerable sector, the current trend is considered a development compared to the rate in the 1970s, which was six children per woman, Bersales said.
“Ang kababaihan na kayang magpalaki ng mga anak, magbigay ng magandang buhay, ‘yong anak nila ay isa na lang o dalawa. Pero yong mga kababaihan na kailangan pa ng tulong na medyo mahihirapan sila magpalaki ng anak na may ganong oportunidad sa mga kababaihan na nasabi ko, ang mga anak nila ay 2.5 to 3. Pero we still celebrate dahil nong 70s ang total fertility rate was six,” Bersales said.
(The women who are able to raise children and give them a good life, have just one or two children. But for those women who still need help, it will be a bit difficult for them to raise children with the same opportunities as the women I mentioned, their children are 2.5 to 3. But we still celebrate because in the 70s the total fertility rate was six.)
The survey also revealed that 1 in 2 currently married women said they no longer desire more children, while 17 percent want to delay their next childbirths for two or more years.
Although a downtrend in TFR has been observed, Bersales said that the population of 14 years old and below is still growing, which prompts the need for local government units to “spend a lot for the children in their communities.” (RG/PIA MIMAROPA-Palawan)
