The Department of Health (DOH) and its partners highlighted the importance of family planning among Filipinos and underscored the urgent need to be more aware of its benefits.

As part of the culminating activity for the celebration of Family Planning Month in August, DOH conducted a campaign event entitled “Healthy Pilipinas: Health is Life” in Lanao Del Norte on Aug. 31.

With the theme, "Usap Tayo sa Family Planning para Protektado ang Pamilyang Pilipino (Let us Talk about Family Planning for the Protection of Every Filipino Family),” the said event was live-streamed on Healthy Pilipinas Facebook page.

DOH Officer-in-Charge Director IV of Health Promotion Bureau Director Rodley Desmond Daniel Garza said the “Health is Life” campaign is the department’s “mission and our battle cry to make the healthy behaviors the easier choice for everyone, everywhere.”

During the event, Garza explained family planning is not an individual decision of both couples.

Instead, it is a discussion that needs to happen within the family and needs to be planned on how the couples and singles will practice family planning, the spacing of their child, or if they plan to have a child.

7 important healthy habits

The campaign event also highlighted safe sex practice as one of the “Seven Important Healthy Habits.”

Based on the data listed in the Local Health Playbook for Sexual and Reproductive Health of Healthy Pilipinas (Healthy Philippines), teenage pregnancy has experienced a sudden surge, with an average of 64,000 minors giving birth every year.

"In fact, katulong po natin sila (Lanao Del Norte) sa pag-implement ng ating health promotion playbook on ating key assistance for developing adolescents, our behavioral nudges for handwashing and of course our healthy karinderya (In fact, Lanao Del Norte is our partner in implementing our health promotion playbook on our key assistance for developing adolescents, our behavioral nudges for handwashing, and of course, our healthy karinderya),” Garza said.

Meanwhile, Lanao Del Norte Governor Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo emphasized that “talking about family planning is not just about having fewer children but also about ensuring the health of both mothers and children.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) also showed support for the campaign.
"WHO is always with you [DOH], will continue to support particularly in the technical areas. How can we be successful in implementing family planning, not only in Lanao Del Norte but also in the whole nation,” WHO Philippines representative - Director Rui Paulo De Jesus said.

Officials from different departments also supported the DOH's campaign event, including the Commission on Population and Development, the Center for Health Development-Northern Mindanao, USAID Reach Health, and the United Population Fund. (Zekinah Elize Espina)