Strengthening Family Planning by Raising Community Awareness in Biñan City

Biñan City is proving that local government leadership, when paired with youth empowerment and data-driven strategies, can lead to measurable improvements in reproductive health. Once among the top 20 cities in the Calabarzon region for teenage pregnancies, Biñan has since emerged as a frontrunner in youth-focused family planning (FP) outreach, increasing its modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) from 71.3% in 2021 to 83.12% in 2024.

This progress did not happen overnight. Between 2016 and 2020, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD)-Calabarzon recorded 4,896 cases of teenage pregnancy in Biñan. In 2021 alone, there were 945 cases, with an Adolescent Birth Rate (ABR) of 47 per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19—well above the national target of 30. These figures alarmed local leaders, prompting a full-scale response that combined service delivery improvements with strong demand generation.

Strategic Shift through Partnership

This urgent situation prompted Mayor Atty. Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. and the local government to pursue a bolder, more integrated approach to reproductive health. A staunch advocate of youth development and a consistent champion for health equity, Mayor Dimaguila led the city in forming a partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) under The Challenge Initiative (TCI)-Philippines in 2021. Through a formal Memorandum of Understanding, Biñan established a City Leadership Team (CLT) composed of representatives from the City Population Office, Department of Health (DOH), CPD, and ZFF. The CLT broke down previously fragmented programming and created a coordinated structure for adolescent health planning and implementation.

A key part of Biñan’s approach was the deliberate combination of supply-side improvements with demand generation strategies. The city knew that simply offering services was not enough—people needed to understand and trust them. To create demand, Biñan mobilized community actors, trained peer educators, and conducted sustained information campaigns. This was particularly important for youth, whose needs are often overlooked or misunderstood in reproductive health programming.

Engaging the Youth as Partners

Recognizing young people as equal partners rather than passive recipients, Biñan prioritized their active involvement. Through partnerships with the Department of Education, school leaders, and parents, the city supported peer education, values formation, and comprehensive sexuality education. Atty. Nora Pangan, Acting Department Head of the City Population Office, shared that the team began with school administrators to earn their trust, gradually involving parents and students in the process. 

Despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city quickly pivoted to virtual platforms, ensuring continuity through online activities such as teenage pregnancy symposiums and adolescent health film dissemination. Once in-person activities resumed, Biñan organized blended, community-based events including the Pinsenya and Bunti’s Party, which used interactive learning to deliver maternal and reproductive health messages.

Teen centers became a cornerstone of the city’s youth strategy. School-based and community-based centers were designed to be safe, non-judgmental spaces for young people to access services, information, and mental health support. Formalized through Memoranda of Agreement with CPD-Calabarzon and educational institutions, three school-based teen centers were established across public and private schools. These centers also served as referral hubs under the Information Service Delivery Network (ISDN), linking adolescents to health providers and social support systems. Mental health, in particular, emerged as a recurring concern. Population Program Officer Hilario Pantua Jr. noted that the centers helped change how youth viewed mental health services, moving away from punitive associations with guidance offices and toward a model grounded in care and trust.

To expand reach and reinforce behavior change, Biñan trained peer facilitators and implemented youth-led sessions such as Breaking the Barrier Sessions (BTBS), Bunteens, Teenzania, U4U Teen Trail, and Parent-Teen Talks. These initiatives supported conversations on responsible parenthood, gender equality, and family planning—meeting adolescents where they were and speaking their language.

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Building Demand, Strengthening Systems

Alongside youth engagement, Biñan strengthened its health service delivery system. Barangay health stations were upgraded and certified as Level 1 adolescent-friendly health facilities, while City Health Office I and II attained Level 2 certification. These facilities were staffed by adolescent health specialists and peer educators, ensuring services were accessible, inclusive, and age-appropriate.

At the core of these improvements was a commitment to data-driven planning. Through the Field Health Service and Information System (FHSIS) and the e-Plano platform, Biñan monitored service quality, contraceptive uptake, and teen pregnancy rates across all barangays. This digital infrastructure allowed for real-time tracking and responsive strategy adjustments, making program management more precise and impactful.

Complementing these efforts was the Serbisyong Arman Caravan, a mobile initiative delivering family planning and health services directly to barangays. The Caravan advanced the city’s rights-based FP messaging, promoting informed choice and correcting misconceptions about contraceptives. Rooted in grassroots engagement, the Caravan was instrumental in building community trust and addressing barriers to FP access.

Results and Sustainability

The results have been significant. City reports revealed that from an ABR of 47 per 1,000 in 2021, Biñan saw a sharp and steady decline: 22 in 2022, 16 in 2023, and 15 in 2024. This drop demonstrates the impact of the city’s combined efforts to build awareness, improve access, and nurture community support. Moreover, the rise in mCPR from 71.3 percent in 2021 to 83.12 percent in 2024 reflects not just improved availability of contraceptives, but also growing public confidence in family planning services.

To support this sustained progress, Biñan significantly increased its local investment in adolescent health. The city’s AYSRH budget rose from 625 thousand pesos in 2023 to 3.3 million pesos in 2024, and then more than doubled to 6.5 million pesos in 2025. These figures reflect the strong political will of Mayor Dimaguila and the City Council to institutionalize AYSRH programs and ensure that adolescent-friendly services are adequately funded across all barangays.

Biñan’s transformation is a testament to what is possible when leadership, data, and community action converge. Through its youth-led, multi-sectoral, and evidence-based approach, Biñan is building a future where every young person can access the services, information, and support they need to thrive—today and in the years to come.