(11 January 2022) DR. Alfredo R. A. “Alran” Bengzon, who was then-president Corazon Aquino’s health secretary, knew he had inherited a corrupted and underfunded health system from the older Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Alran would have to start by literally cleaning out the Aegean stables that was the Department of Health (DOH) as he found continue reading : Stay in, sit tight as COVID sweeps the country by Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH

(07 January 2022) The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) has commended President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for formalizing the landmark passage of Republic Act 11596, otherwise known as “An Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage,” which criminalizes the union of an adult with a minor. POPCOM has long advocated for the strong protection of continue reading : POPCOM: R.A. 11596 a positive dev’t for Filipino children’s future, wellbeing (Statement on the recently signed law prohibiting the practice of child marriages)

The Philippine population is expected to achieve a historic record in 2021, as the total number of Filipinos is projected to increase by only 324,000 for the entire year—just a 0.3% increase compared to 2020. According to the Commission on Population and Development, this annual “natural increase” is the lowest since the period between 1946 continue reading : No. of Filipinos increase by merely 0.3% in 2021; total of 109,991,095 by year end: POPCOM projects slowest population rise in 75 years

The ongoing pandemic has manifested its polarizing effects on Filipinos’ socioeconomic standing, as it pushed more than 4 million individuals deeper into poverty, while lifting some 800,000 out of economic hardships. According to recent Philippine Statistics Authority reports on official poverty statistics and causes of death, 4,300,000 Filipinos, or about 861,300 families, sank below the continue reading : Pandemic-plagued areas’ poverty rates 5x up, 4.3M more Pinoys poorer; While regions least affected lift 800,000 from economic woes

As family planning continues to gain ground nationwide, and family sizes stabilize at two to three children, the Philippine government must now turn to other important development aspects of the country’s population—particularly the “living wages” necessary for parents to responsibly fulfill their role as heads of their families.                 This was the position of Undersecretary continue reading : Population and Development (POPDEV) Week: November 23 to 29: POPCOM bats for families’ “living wage,” not just minimum pay as PHL achieves new lows in population numbers