Accelerating Family Planning and Adolescent Reproductive Health in Iligan City Through Active Leadership
Stories
Nestled in Northern Mindanao, Iligan City has long wrestled with challenges in providing effective family planning (FP) and adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these hurdles, leading to a 30% decline in facility-based deliveries and a rise in home births attended by traditional birth attendants or hilots. These shifts strained health workers’ efforts to promote hospital-based care—especially in remote and coastal barangays.
More troubling was the spike in adolescent births. In Iligan City, the adolescent birth rate (ABR) among 15–19-year-olds was 29 per 1,000 live births in 2021. This jumped sharply to 42 per 1,000 in 2022. This steep rise pointed to how lockdowns and limited access to health education and services had disrupted the lives of Iligan’s youth.
Inclusive Leadership Driving Change
In 2023, Mayor Frederick Siao led Iligan City’s official participation in The Challenge Initiative (TCI)—a global partnership co-managed by the Zuellig Family Foundation, the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, and Bayer International. The program focuses on supporting local governments to scale up evidence-based and sustainable FP and ASRH solutions.
Mayor Siao championed an inclusive leadership style, formalized through Executive Order No. 28, s. 2023, which created the City Leadership Team (CLT)—a coalition composed of representatives from the City Health Office, Planning, Population, Gender and Development (GAD) Office, Youth Council, Social Services, and national agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH) and the Commission on Population and Development (CPD).
“The collaboration and ownership of the problem and its solution is a key contribution of the TCI program,” said Dr. Glenn Manarpaac, City Health Officer. “Before, our programs were fragmented. Now, we have a strategic, unified approach.”
Data-Driven Solutions for Better Health
Central to Iligan’s transformation is its commitment to accurate and timely data. In March 2024, the City Health Office, TCI, and DOH conducted a three-day reorientation on the Family Planning Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS). This training equipped 44 health centers with updated knowledge on FP data recording and reporting.
“Incorrect data entry leads to inaccurate reporting,” explained Rhona Sumugat, Family Planning Coordinator. “This is our first reorientation in 15 years. We’re now better equipped to deliver quality care.”
With more accurate data, Iligan has been able to provide better services and advocate for greater investments in health infrastructure and training.
Youth-Friendly and Inclusive Services
In partnership with the Local Youth Development Council, Iligan City has scaled up youth-friendly health services. As of 2024, there are nineteen Level 1 Adolescent-Friendly Health Facilities offering services such as mental health counseling, human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization, and family planning for teens.
“Young people are more willing to seek help when they feel heard and respected,” said Nora Fe Escorial, Local Youth Development Officer. “We’re making sure they have access to the information and services they need.”
The city institutionalized this commitment with the passage of Resolution No. 25-210, establishing the Iligan City Youth Development Office (ICYDO). The office will lead youth programs and ensure sustained adolescent participation in governance and service planning.
Teenager Maria Santos shared how meaningful this shift has been: “Having our voices heard in these discussions makes me feel empowered. We need services that understand our needs.”
Respecting Culture While Promoting Choice
Recognizing the importance of cultural and religious sensitivities, Iligan City has adopted inclusive strategies to bridge gaps in FP access. Forty-five trained Barangay Population Volunteers (BPVs) now serve as cultural navigators, offering accurate and respectful reproductive health information in underserved areas.
The city has also started peer learning with nearby Cagayan de Oro, exchanging best practices in patient-centered counseling and health service delivery.
A major breakthrough in 2024 was the city’s first-ever dedicated budget for Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs). This move will ensure consistent access to implants and other modern methods, especially for low-income families.
Efforts are guided by GAD principles: disaggregated data, inclusive consultations, services for persons with disabilities, and mobile outreach to marginalized groups.
Sustaining the Gains
Sustainability is embedded in Iligan City’s long-term health strategy. With increased health budgets, the creation of permanent plantilla positions, and plans for two Family Planning Stand-Alone Clinics, the city is ensuring continuity and expansion of essential services.
“Collaboration is the key lesson here,” noted Dr. Manarpaac. “We learned that we can’t do this alone—and we’re committed to sustaining what we’ve started.”
These sustained investments and strategic interventions are already showing promising results. After peaking at 42 adolescent births per 1,000 live births in 2022, the adolescent birth rate (ABR) among 15–19-year-olds declined to 38 in 2023 and dropped further to 25 in 2024.
Empowered by data, united by shared leadership, and driven by the needs of its people, Iligan City is shaping a health system that is inclusive, resilient, and future-ready.