Welcome Message
Arsenio M. Balisacan, PhD
Secretary, National Economic and Development Authority
2024 National Family Planning Conference
Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Quezon City | 20 November 2024
To the officials from various national and local government agencies;
Esteemed representatives from civil society organizations and the development community;
And to all stakeholders who are taking part in this milestone conference;
May I convey my warmest greetings and salutations for your tireless efforts in advancing the family planning and reproductive health agenda!
First and foremost, I congratulate the organizers of this significant and timely event. The event’s objectives and significance align well with the Marcos Administration’s ongoing thrust to sustain rapid economic growth toward socioeconomic transformation. With the Philippine Development Plan as our roadmap, we are making steady progress in attaining our targets, and it is essential to ensure that every Filipino and their families genuinely feel this transformation.
The demographic shifts that our country is experiencing are critical factors that we must consider as we pursue the broader development agenda. These trends present crucial opportunities that we can harness and fundamental challenges that we must urgently address.
On the one hand, our economy’s growth potential has been enhanced by declining fertility levels among women, reflecting their greater capacity to achieve their fertility goals as they pursue the various economic opportunities made available to them. On the other hand, sustained and holistic human capital development—particularly in health and education—and creating more and higher-quality employment opportunities remain challenging.
Specific segments of our population also face significant challenges in achieving the desired number and the timing and spacing of children because of inadequate access to family planning services. We are also facing the serious challenge of increasing adolescent pregnancies among children who are 10-14 years old.
Our Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-POA) 2023-2028 articulates these opportunities and challenges and informs us of the way forward. Aligned with the PDP and the PPD-POA thrusts, this National Conference on Family Planning is an important opportunity for us to engage all stakeholders at all levels in meaningful discourse. It is an opportunity for us to identify actionable pathways towards enabling individuals and families to realize their aspirations. Furthermore, while this conference focuses on the agenda of family planning, the current demographic trends we are seeing globally have broadened the agenda from fertility regulation to include the critical principles of human rights, choices, and development.
Aside from demographic shifts, the Philippines is affected by other global megatrends such as climate change, migration, urbanization, and technological advancements. These emerging issues have become critical contexts in advancing family planning, and they call for novel and carefully calibrated approaches in navigating the way forward. In this regard, collaboration will be key. Given the complexity of the challenges and the interplay of various trends, we must employ a multisectoral and multidimensional lens for collaboration.
Finally, this conference underscores the call to accelerate relevant initiatives. Indeed, we have achieved so much in advancing family planning through the collective efforts of all stakeholders here. However, our family planning outcomes reflect inequity and inequality, especially regarding access. Since we have yet to ensure universal access to these services, the message is clear: no one must be left behind. We need more targeted and inclusive approaches as we aim to reach the marginalized sectors, including those in geographically isolated areas, those in the informal economy, and other segments of the population that have no or inadequate access to reproductive health services.
With these calls, this conference will provide opportunities for meaningful and engaging discussions. Once more, my congratulations to the organizers for this successful event. Rest assured that your government will continue working with you to move the family planning and population program forward and realize the Filipino people’s shared vision of a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat!
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