POPCOM History |
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| 1967 |
Seventeen heads of state including the Philippine
President signed the United Nations Declaration on Population
which stressed: The Population problem must be recognized
as a principal element in long-range planning, if governments
are to achieve their economic goals and fulfill the aspirations
of their people. |
|
1970 |
The Philippine Population Program was officially
launched through the Executive Order No. 233. The Commission
on Population (POPCOM) was mandated to serve as the central
coordinating and policy making body of the government in the
field of population. |
|
| 1971 |
Republic Act 6365, known as the Population
Act of the Philippines was enacted into law by Congress. |
|
| 1972 |
Presidential Decree 79 was signed directing
public and private sectors to undertake a National Family
Planning Program which respects the religious beliefs and
values of individuals. |
|
| 1975 |
Presidential Decree 166 further strengthened
the Program. It required the participation of private organizations
and individuals in the formulation and implementation of population
programs and policies. |
|
| 1986 |
Executive Order No. 123 attached POPCOM
to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
as the planning and coordinating agency. |
|
| 1987 |
Policy statement under the Aquino Administration
was issued by the POPCOM Board which states: "the ultimate
goal of the Population Program is the improvement of the quality
of human life in a just and humane society… The achievement
of this goal requires a recognition of the close interrelationships
among population, resources and environmental factors." |
|
| 1990 |
Executive Order No. 408, was issued placing
POPCOM under the Office of the President in order to "facilitate
coordination of policies and programs relative to population." |
|
| 1991 |
Executive Order No. 476 was issued making
POPCOM an attached agency of the National Economic and Development
Authority. |
|
| 1993 |
Adoption of the Philippine Population Management
Program and the Population, Resources and Environment Framework
by the Ramos Administration. |
|
| 1999 |
The Estrada Administration reformulated
the Philippine Population Management Program with Responsible
Parenthood as its lynchpin. |
|
| 2003 |
On March 24, 2003, President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 188 attaching POPCOM
to the Department of Health. |
|
| 2005 |
In a Statement of Support, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
joined “the community of nations in expressing support for the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).”
The statement also reiterated the principles that guide
the Philippine government in the implementation of population
program. These
principles are based on the four (4) pillars of Responsible
Parenthood, Respect for Life, Birth Spacing, and Informed
Choice.
Health services, including Reproductive Health services, are
devolved by the Local Government Code to the local government
units. Local Government
Units have the responsibility of providing couples and
individuals with information and services to enable them to
exercise Responsible Parenthood.
|
|
| 2006 |
On October 10,
2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued guidelines and
directive for the DOH, POPCOM, and local government units to
take full charge of the implementation of the Responsible
Parenthood and Family Planning Program.
The Responsible Parenthood and Natural Family Planning
Program’s primary policy objective is to promote natural family
planning, birth spacing (three years birth spacing) and
breastfeeding which are good for the health of the mother,
child, family, and community. While LGUs can
promote artificial family planning because of local autonomy,
the national government advocates natural family planning.
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