UPPI joins the 2024 National Conference on Family Planning
The Institute showed full support for the 2024 National Conference on Family Planning, held on November 20-21, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pasig City. The Scientific and Program Committee for this two-day event was chaired by UPPI Faculty Dr. Grace T. Cruz. UPPI University Researcher Klarriness P. Tanalgo and Assistant Professor Mark Ryan B. Paguirigan also helped in the conference preparations.
Photo courtesy of the 3rd National Conference on Family Planning organizers.
On the first day, UPPI Director Dr. Elma P. Laguna moderated Plenary Session 2, titled The State of the Philippine Population. The panel focused on the demographic dividend in the Philippine context, emphasizing the need to improve human capital to translate potential into actual economic growth.
One of the presenters for this session was Dr. Josefina N. Natividad, former UPPI Professor and now UP Professor Emeritus. In her talk, she explained that the current working-age population is at its peak but requires investments in health, education, and employment opportunities. She highlighted the need to focus on these policy areas to prepare for the inevitable transition to an aging population.
Other presenters included in the plenary session were – Dr. Judith B. Borja, Executive Director of the University of San Carlos Office of the Population Studies (USC-OPS), who discussed the 'double burden of malnutrition' and targeted school-based interventions for stunted adolescents; Dr. Karol Mark Yee from The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2), who addressed the Philippine education crisis, highlighting issues such as inadequate resources in schools, and outdated curricula that hinder learning and contribute to high dropout rates; and Dr. Jan Carlo Punongbayan, a professor at the UP School of Economics, who examined the declining returns to education since 2005, particularly for college graduates in low-wage jobs.
Left to right: UP School Economics Professor Jan Carlo Punongbayan, UPPI Director Elma P. Laguna, USC-OPS Executive Director Dr. Judith B. Borja, CPD Executive Director Lisa Grace S. Bersales, and UP Professor Emeritus Dr. Josefina N. Natividad. Photo courtesy of the 3rd National Conference on Family Planning organizers.
Assoc. Professor. Maria Paz N. Marquez and Dr. Maria Midea M. Kabamalan opened the second day of the conference with one of the parallel sessions. A/Prof. Marquez presented their study on understanding under-15 fertility in the Philippines using various data sources. Results from their study indicated a notable increase in the number of births among 13- and 14-year-old girls. However, she emphasized that these births account for only a small proportion of the approximately 1.5 million annual births in the Philippines.
A/Prof. Marquez also identified regions with the highest risks of early childbearing compared to the national average: Northern Mindanao (R10), Davao (R11), and SOCCSKSARGEN (R12).
Dr. Grace Cruz concluded by expressing sincere gratitude to the individuals and partners who contributed to the success of the conference. Special acknowledgement was given to UPPI students for providing notes and documentation for the studies and working papers presented throughout the conference. Dr. Cruz then challenged the attendees to "innovate with courage, collaborate with purpose, and accelerate with unwavering commitment to ensure that population and development become the cornerstone of a prosperous, resilient, and inclusive society.”
The 2024 National Conference on Family Planning was convened by the Department of Health, the Commission on Population and Development, and the Forum for Family Planning and Development.
Photo courtesy of Ms. Klarriness P. Tanalgo and 3rd National Conference on Family Planning organizers.
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