Iloilo City named global leader in family planning, adolescent health
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in Western Visayas lauded the Iloilo City government for its recent recognition as Global Self-Reliant City in Family Planning and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health.
This feat, conferred by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) of the Zuellig Family Foundation, highlights the city’s remarkable leadership and commitment to providing accessible and impactful services for family planning and youth health.
In a statement, CPD Regional Director Harold Alfred P. Marshall expressed gratitude to the TCI of the Zuellig Family Foundation for making them part of this significant milestone.
“We have constantly and closely partnered with the City Government of Iloilo, specifically through the City Population Office, in implementing and coordinating population and development strategies and initiatives in Iloilo City, specifically on the promotion of responsible parenthood and family planning and advancement of adolescent health and development.” Marshall said.
He added that they have continuously provided technical assistance and extended capacity development activities to the partners and stakeholders in the City government.
Meanwhile, in a press release, the Iloilo City government shared the significant improvement on the local implementation of family planning (FP) and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) initiatives in the metro since joining the TCI in May 2023.
“These efforts have resulted in remarkable achievements, including the training of 601 community health workers, 252 postpartum family planning providers, 831 mobile outreach service providers, and 290 adolescent-friendly health service providers,” the statement added.
Through these efforts and collaborations with stakeholders, 100 percent of eligible facilities in the City now offer postpartum family planning and adolescent-friendly health services, conducted 95 mobile outreach activities and 480 demand-generation campaigns, bringing essential services and awareness directly to communities.
The city government likewise recognized the leadership of Mayor Jerry Treñas and other key officials, including City Health Officer medical doctor Annabelle Tang, City Population Officer Ma. Cecilla Guillergan, TCI Focal Person PPO III Ma. Annie Masigon, CPD Regional Director Marshall, and former DOH 6 Regional Director medical doctor Adriano Suba-an.
CPD has witnessed when TCI first engaged with the Iloilo City and saw the development of various initiatives of the city since then.
“The agency has seen how the City through the years and through the collective effort of all concerned partners and stakeholders achieved feats and victories in advancing and championing population and development strategies and innovations,” Marshall noted. (AAL/FRG/PIA6/with reports from CPD6 and Iloilo City PIO)