ILOILO – This province has consistently exceeded the Department of Health’s (DOH) national target for contraceptive use among women of reproductive age over the past three years, reflecting significant progress in the local government’s family planning program.
From 2022 to 2024, Iloilo’s contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) surpassed the DOH’s 30% annual benchmark, with the latest figure reaching 36.85% in 2024 — or 185,475 users out of 503,294 women aged 15 to 49 years. This marks a steady increase from 32.09% (169,630 users) in 2022 and 35.90% (182,057 users) in 2023.
“This means more women now have access to safe and informed family planning methods,” said Dr. Rodney Labis, head of the Health Service Delivery Division of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
Of the 42 municipalities and Passi City, 29 achieved at least a 30% CPR last year. The top-performing localities were Lemery (67.39%), San Enrique (62.60%), San Dionisio (56.91%), Sara (52.11%), and Carles (51.04%).
The most commonly used family planning method in the province is oral contraceptive pills, with 82,084 users in 2024.
Other popular methods include injectables (36,433), natural family planning or lactational amenorrhea (14,733), intrauterine devices (13,827), and implants (11,441).
Some residents also use condoms and undergo vasectomy procedures.
“This achievement supports proper birth spacing, improves child health outcomes, and helps prevent deaths related to unplanned pregnancies,” Labis emphasized. “It also empowers women and families to make informed choices and manage their resources more effectively.”
Labis attributed the success of the program to the strong alignment of the provincial government’s initiatives with national policies, including Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, and Executive Order No. 12, Series of 2017, which aims to eliminate unmet need for modern family planning, especially among poor households.
Implementation of the program involves not just the IPHO but also local health offices, municipal health units, district hospitals, and barangay-level service providers such as Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs).
In 2024, Iloilo made another milestone by establishing the country’s first Provincial Health Office-managed Family Planning Training Center. The facility has trained nearly 100 midwives, doctors, and nurses to provide quality family planning services.
Additional efforts include regular program monitoring, technical assistance to health facilities, and the provision of family planning commodities to augment municipal supplies. The IPHO also encourages local government units to allocate a portion of their annual budgets to support family planning services.
“These investments and collaborations are essential in ensuring universal access to family planning, especially for women who need it most,” said Labis./PN
