ILOILO City – A government-led campaign to promote responsible parenthood and family planning in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region (NIR) has surpassed its targets by a wide margin, reaching over 154,000 couples and individuals as of 2024, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region 6 reported.
With a target of 54,089 individuals for 2024, CPD-6 achieved an impressive 286% accomplishment rate, as part of its Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP) initiative — a cornerstone strategy aimed at helping families achieve their fertility goals through education, outreach, and access to services.
The record-breaking accomplishment comes in time for the celebration of Family Planning Month this August. The Department of Health (DOH) and CPD lead the nationwide observance to emphasize the health and economic benefits of planned families, under the theme: “Panalo ang Pamilyang Planado! Tara, Usap Tayo sa Planning!”
“Family planning empowers couples to make informed choices about when and how many children to have, helping build healthier families, stronger communities, and a better future,” the DOH said in a public statement.
CPD-6 director Harold Alfred Marshall attributed the strong results to the “collaborative efforts of local government units, partner agencies, civil society organizations, academe, and other development partners.”
The province of Capiz led the regional tally for demand generation, reaching 30,130 individuals, followed by Negros Occidental with 23,882, and Iloilo with 17,320. Antique reached 12,916; Aklan, 5,553; and Guimaras, 912.
Among highly urbanized cities, Iloilo City logged 10,923 while Bacolod City reached 5,862.
Talisay City in Negros Occidental ranked first among component cities with 10,200 individuals reached, followed by Roxas City (9,221) and Kabankalan City (5,727).
All component cities in Western Visayas and the NIR exceeded their individual targets:
* Talisay – 10, 200
* Roxas – 9, 221
* Kabankalan – 5, 727
* Himamaylan – 4, 951
* Sagay – 3, 633
* San Carlos – 3, 087
* Bago – 2, 990
* Victorias – 1, 997
* Silay – 1, 289
* Escalante – 1, 033
* La Carlota – 930
* Cadiz – 737
* Sipalay – 707
* Passi – 651
In terms of new family planning (FP) acceptors, Region 6 referred and served a total of 58,633 clients—against a target of just 7,248—resulting in an 809% accomplishment rate.
Negros Occidental recorded the highest number of new FP acceptors with 17,542, followed by Iloilo with 16,409. Aklan had 3,033; Antique, 2, 293; Capiz, 2, 265; and Guimaras, 339.
Talisay City once again led all component cities with 2,924 new acceptors, followed by Roxas (2,050) and Sagay (1,551). Here’s the rest:
* Himamaylan – 1, 450
* Silay – 1, 420
* Kabankalan – 1, 160
* Passi- 962
* San Carlos – 618
* Sipalay – 577
* Bago – 333
* Cadiz – 316
* La Carlota – 212
* Victorias – 210
* Escalante – 146
Iloilo City reached 1,954 and Bacolod City, 869.
The RPFP program is designed not only to support couples who wish to responsibly space or limit childbearing, but also to prevent unplanned pregnancies, thus contributing to better maternal health, economic stability, and child welfare.
Through education campaigns, workshops, and on-the-ground mobilization, CPD-6 continues to provide couples and individuals with resources and services they need to plan their families effectively and responsibly./PN
