The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) celebrated the graduation of nine cities under The Challenge Initiative (TCI)-Philippines: General Santos, Iriga, Isabela de Basilan, Lapu-Lapu, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Tacurong, and Tagum. 

The Batch 3 Colloquium, themed “Sustaining Momentum: Transformative Reproductive Health Impact through Data-Driven Leadership,” took place on October 14, 2025, at the Park Inn by Radisson in Quezon City. The event gathered local government leaders, health officers, and partners from across the country to celebrate how cities strengthened their family planning (FP) and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) programs through evidence-based leadership.

ZFF President and Executive Director Austere Panadero congratulated the cities for their progress. Across the nine cities, data show significant gains: all surpassed the national target for adolescent birth rates or incidence of teenage pregnancy (below 37 births per 1,000 women) and most exceeded the 30% modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) benchmark. “These are not just numbers,” said Panadero, “Ito ay mga kwento ng pagbabago—of stronger systems, more capable leaders, and communities that now make informed and empowered choices.”

Dr. Anthony Faraon, Chief of Party of TCI-Philippines at ZFF, presented key reproductive health trends, warning that while births among 15–19-year-olds are declining, births among girls below 15 are increasing. He challenged the audience: “Will we act now with the urgency this crisis demands or will we wait until the effects are irreversible?”

Related articles:

• Batch 1: Five Cities Celebrate Milestone in Adolescent Health and Family Planning Efforts
• Batch 2: Eight Cities Share Success in Family Planning and Adolescent Health

Panel 1: Family Planning Demand Generation and Service Innovations

Cities showcased innovative approaches that expanded access and inclusivity in family planning services:

• Tagum City – Mobilized grassroots leaders and youth advocates through Usapang Youth and KATROPA sessions, engaging men and youth as champions of reproductive health.
• General Santos City – Expanded outreach to underserved women through Family Planning Itinerant Teams and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).
• Lapu-Lapu City – Empowered barangay health workers as frontline FP service providers.
• Iriga City – Promoted culturally sensitive family planning among 21 Indigenous Peoples (IP) tribes.
• Isabela de Basilan – Localized reproductive health materials into 16 languages to reach more communities.

Panel 2: Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Innovations

Cities also implemented programs that placed young people at the center of reproductive health advocacy:

• Mandaluyong City – Organized Healthy Young Ones lectures and the Adolescent Congress to create peer-driven learning spaces.
  Quezon City – Institutionalized prevention programs through Ordinance No. SP-3128, s. 2021, establishing the Information and Service Delivery Network for Adolescent Health and Development (ISDN4AHD).
• Pasig City – Developed a rights-based referral system to link services across agencies.
• Tacurong City – Integrated adolescent-friendly health services across all barangay centers.

Representatives from the graduating cities shared Leadership Narratives, reflecting on their efforts to sustain reproductive health reforms amid political transitions. They emphasized collaboration, data use, and strong community partnerships as key to their success.

In his closing message, Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit, ZFF Chairman, congratulated the cities for achieving global self-reliance: “You are all part of a global movement called TCI, covering hundreds of cities worldwide. Our local experience has global significance.” 

As of September 2025, ZFF and its partners under TCI-Philippines recorded the following results across 24 cities: 

• 947 Master Coaches trained nationwide;
• 209,574 additional family planning clients served;
• 21,589 outreach and demand-generation activities conducted;
• 577 health facilities certified as adolescent-friendly; and
• 780 facilities offering post-pregnancy family planning services.

These accomplishments reflect a shared lesson from the colloquium: that locally led, evidence-based, and community-rooted approaches can sustain reproductive health gains and inspire other local governments across the country.

The Challenge Initiative (TCI)-Philippines, implemented by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), will hold its Batch 3 Colloquium on October 14, 2025, bringing together nine cities that have made strides in improving family planning (FP) and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH).

The event, themed “Sustaining Momentum: Transformative Reproductive Health Impact through Data-Driven Leadership,” celebrates the achievements of General Santos, Iriga, Isabela de Basilan, Lapu-Lapu, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Tacurong, and Tagum, the final cohort of TCI-Philippines.

Over the past three years, these cities have shown how innovation, local leadership, and data use can translate into tangible gains—raising modern contraceptive prevalence rates (mCPR) and reducing adolescent birth rates (ABR). Their experiences highlight that locally led and evidence-based programs can drive lasting impact, even amid political and social changes.

Through the support of TCI-Philippines and ZFF, local governments designed and implemented tailored initiatives addressing their communities’ specific needs:

• Tagum City engaged men and youth as advocates, increasing awareness and participation in FP.
• General Santos City expanded access to modern contraceptives by deploying FP Itinerant Teams to reach underserved communities.
• Lapu-Lapu City strengthened service continuity by empowering barangay health workers to deliver FP services.
• Iriga City and Isabela de Basilan improved inclusivity by tailoring FP efforts to indigenous peoples through localized communication strategies.
• Mandaluyong City reduced  adolescent pregnancies through community group engagement 
• Quezon City institutionalized adolescent pregnancy prevention through an ordinance, creating a coordinated network for youth health and development.
• Pasig City improved adolescent-friendly health services through a comprehensive Information and Service Delivery Network (ISDN).
• Tacurong City integrated adolescent needs into regular health services, ensuring continued access to reproductive health care.

These innovations build on the lessons of previous TCI-Philippines batches in Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Puerto Princesa, Baguio, San Jose, Iligan, Naga, Santiago, Biñan, Mandaue, Manila, Iloilo, and Las Piñas, whose experiences affirm that sustained political commitment, data use, and community engagement are key to improving reproductive health outcomes.

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As TCI-Philippines concludes its final cohort, the Colloquium aims to showcase city achievements, share best practices, and inspire other local governments to adopt scalable and sustainable approaches to FP and AYSRH.

Related articles:

• Batch 1: Five Cities Celebrate Milestone in Adolescent Health and Family Planning Efforts
• Batch 2: Eight Cities Share Success in Family Planning and Adolescent Health

Surigao City — Surigao del Norte leaders reinforced their commitment to protect communities during disasters by aligning strategies for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in emergencies.

The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with support from Australian Aid, led a two-day Project Alignment and Technical Roadmapping Workshop on September 11–12, 2025 at the Provincial Conference Hall in Surigao City. The event brought together provincial officials, health leaders, and development partners to craft a unified roadmap for implementing the Minimum Initial Service Package for SRH (MISP-SRH).

Provincial leaders signaled their commitment by joining the sessions. Atty. Rise Faith Recabo, Provincial Administrator, represented Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers. Dr. Maria Isabel Makinano, Provincial Health Officer, and Fe Saumat, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer, also joined, along with other department heads and staff. Their presence showed the province’s determination to strengthen SRH services in its disaster response plans.

During the alignment session, Emmanuelle Pabalate, OIC-Project Manager for MISP-SRH at ZFF, urged stakeholders to set measurable milestones and align local efforts with national frameworks. She urged participants to:

• Set measurable milestones, strengthen governance, and mobilize resources; and 
• Build lasting partnerships with civil society organizations to sustain reforms and ensure that provincial strategies remain aligned with national frameworks.

In the technical session, ZFF MISP-SRH staff, Elaine Joyce Diaz and Loriegrace Mindoro, guided participants through a structured process of reviewing achievements, identifying gaps, and mapping out strategies with timelines. Diaz underscored that:

• Evidence-based planning strengthens accountability;
• Proper monitoring helps track progress and sustain services; and
• Aligning actions with the DRRM framework ensures readiness during emergencies.

The workshop ended with an actionable roadmap and renewed partnerships among provincial stakeholders. While challenges remain, Surigao del Norte signaled its readiness to institutionalize reforms, mobilize resources, and strengthen governance systems.

These efforts aim to build a resilient and inclusive SRH system that protects families, especially women and girls, during disasters.

Authors:  Loriegrace Mindoro, ZFF Provincial Account Officer for Catanduanes and Surigao del Norte; Krizzia Esperanza, ZFF Corporate Communications Associate

Tacloban City — Local government leaders from Samar and Southern Leyte gathered for a two-day workshop last September 16–17, 2025, that focused on a shared goal: making the most of PhilHealth resources to support adolescent health.

The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) organized the activity under its Expanded Youth Leadership and Governance Program (EYLGP). The workshop formed part of the Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP) supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Dr. Ofelia Alcantara, a public health advocate and former mayor of Tolosa, Leyte, facilitated the sessions. Over 20 participants from nine municipalities joined:

• Southern Leyte: Sogod, Libagon, Bontoc, Liloan, Malitbog
• Samar: Marabut, Basey, Sta. Rita, Villareal

A Shared Vision for Young People’s Health

The gathering highlighted the commitment of local government units (LGUs) to reduce adolescent pregnancy and promote youth leadership in health governance. The discussions built on the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act of 2019, which guarantees access to quality and affordable health services.

Dr. Alcantara encouraged LGUs to view PhilHealth funds as a lifeline. “PhilHealth reimbursements are not just numbers, they’re lifelines for our communities. We need to ensure that every peso translates into better care, especially for our youth,” she said.

Related articles:

• Learning and Working Together: Insights from the Youth Leadership Colloquiums in Southern Leyte and Samar
• Youth and Local Leaders Join Forces to Prevent Teen Pregnancies in Samar
• Southern Leyte Shows Progress in Reducing Teen Pregnancies

Strengthening Local Capacity

The UNFPA-ZFFproject  in  partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), Philhealth, and provincial governments of Samar and So. Leyte has already helped several LGUs secure Maternity Care Package (MCP) and accreditation, and ensure Primary Care Facilities (PCFs) are licensed. Despite these gains, LGUs still face challenges in managing funds, navigating PhilHealth’s online portal, and aligning reimbursements with their local health priorities.

To address these issues, the workshop introduced a four-part strategy:

1. Assess current practices and barriers in PhilHealth income use;
2. Develop a local fund management framework linked to UHC and adolescent health;
3. Deliver tailored mentoring and technical tools for LGUs; and
4. Produce a monograph to guide expansion and institutionalization.

The workshop opened a series of capacity-building activities for Samar and Southern Leyte. Municipal Health Officers, PhilHealth focal persons, and Provincial Development Management Officers actively joined the discussions. Partners from UNFPA and KOICA also expressed support.

LGUs in Samar and Southern Leyte now move forward with a stronger plan to maximize PhilHealth financing. Together with ZFF and its partners, they aim to turn adolescent reproductive health from a policy promise into a lived reality for young people in their communities.

Author: Floro Acaba Jr., ZFF EYLGP Provincial Account Officer for Samar

On September 18, 2025, the Zuellig Family Foundation, through its The Challenge Initiative (TCI)-Philippines team, met with the Lapu-Lapu City government to discuss family planning and adolescent health. Joining the meeting were City Administrator Atty. Almendras and the City Health Office team, led by nurses Ivy Amistad, Jovy Alonzo, and Leizel Lagtapon. The conversation served as a chance to reflect on the city’s progress, identify ongoing challenges, and consider ways to strengthen impact and sustainability.

Recovery and Resilience after COVID-19 

Like many local government units, Lapu-Lapu City experienced major disruptions in reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health workers were diverted to pandemic response, service delivery slowed, and demand for family planning dropped. Now, the City is steadily regaining momentum. With health staff back on the ground, there has been recovery in the uptake of short-acting methods such as pills, injectables, and condoms. Encouragingly, long-acting and permanent methods (LAPMs) like implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and sterilization are also increasing in demand. 

One area where Lapu-Lapu has exceeded expectations is in postpartum family planning (PPFP). Through sustained training and outreach activities, the city has exceeded its TCI commitment of ensuring that targeted providers are trained on PPFP–demonstrating that with political will and operational focus, service delivery can quickly regain strength. 

Related article:

• Eight Cities Share Success in Family Planning and Adolescent Health

Addressing the Data Gap 

Reliable data is critical for decision-making, yet the city continues to face difficulties in capturing a complete picture of family planning performance. Public facilities generally provide regular reports, though private birthing centers and hospitals show variable compliance rates. An ordinance requires reporting, but enforcement is limited without established legal penalties. The City Health Office is considering connecting compliance requirements to business permit processes and incorporating maternal death review procedures as accountability measures.

Another challenge lies in the transition to new Department of Health (DOH) performance indicators. Health staff are still adjusting from measuring modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) to tracking “demand satisfied”, which looks at the percentage of women with demand for family planning and who are actually using modern methods. Lapu-Lapu currently reports a demand satisfied rate of only 46%, far below the 70% national target. Continued coaching and capacity building will be essential to ensure that data is not only accurate but also used strategically for planning and advocacy. 

Investing in Young People 

Adolescent health remains a priority in Lapu-Lapu. Several health workers have been trained on adolescent-friendly health services (AFHS), and facilities are starting to offer confidential, youth-centered care. While formal DOH accreditation is still in development for most facilities, efforts are underway to address infrastructure needs, including the establishment of appropriate counseling spaces.

Despite these challenges, peer education is emerging as a promising practice. By mobilizing young people themselves to reach their peers, the city is creating more relatable and effective pathways to information and services. Plans are underway to expand peer education networks through collaboration with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation and barangay-level initiatives. For sustainability, the city will need to determine the right peer-to-population ratio to ensure meaningful coverage across communities. 

Governance, Financing, and Sustainability 

Lapu-Lapu has demonstrated strong commitment to financing reproductive health, earmarking four million pesos in 2024 and five million pesos in 2025 for FP and adolescent health. 

Budget execution has been gradual, with 22% of funds utilized by mid 2025, indicating opportunities to accelerate implementation timelines to maintain program momentum. This highlights the potential for strengthening alignment between program objectives and financial planning. For example, advancing demand satisfied rates from 46% to 60% would involve specific resource requirements for peer educators, supplies, and community outreach activities, each with defined costs. Developing such costing frameworks could support city leadership, including the mayor and city council, in making strategic resource allocation decisions for optimal program impact.

In May 2025, the City completed a self-reliance assessment using TCI’s Reflection and Action to Improve Self-reliance and Effectiveness (RAISE) Tool. The results showed strong performance in data management (100%) and leadership (85%). However, areas needing improvement include formalizing policies, ensuring specific line-item allocations for FP and adolescent health, and strengthening supportive supervision systems. These gaps highlight where technical assistance and local leadership need to converge to ensure sustainability. 

Moving Ahead 

The meeting underscored both the progress and the unfinished work in Lapu-Lapu City’s reproductive health journey. On the one hand, the city has demonstrated resilience, ownership, and momentum—recovering service delivery, expanding postpartum FP, and investing in adolescent-friendly health services. On the other hand, challenges remain: persistent gaps in data reporting, budget execution, and demand satisfied rates reveal the need for stronger systems and sharper strategies. 

With committed leadership, available resources, and the support of partners like ZFF and TCI, Lapu-Lapu City is well-positioned to transform these challenges into breakthroughs. By enforcing policies, scaling up peer-led youth programs, and aligning financial investments with program outcomes, the city can not only close its current gaps but also emerge as a model for sustainable, locally-owned family planning and adolescent health programs in the Philippines. 

Author: Dr. Anthony Faraon, ZFF TCI-Philippines Chief of Party

Two provinces in Eastern Visayas reflected on how young people and local leaders can work side by side to address adolescent health. 

Through the Expanded Youth Leadership and Governance Program (EYLGP) of the Zuellig Family Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, Southern Leyte and Samar shared lessons, successes, and remaining challenges during their colloquiums held in August 2025.

In less than two years, our program cohort in Southern Leyte cut its adolescent birth rate by 29%, with the municipalities of Liloan and Tomas Oppus reporting zero teen births in 2024. Samar also moved forward, lowering its adolescent birth rate in partner municipalities by 5% and doubling contraceptive use among teens. Both provinces strengthened adolescent-friendly health facilities, supported peer education, and created local committees that regularly meet to tackle youth concerns.

Despite progress, both provinces face similar challenges. Births among very young girls aged 10 to 14 years old increased, often tied to gender-based violence and exposure to harmful online content. In Samar, education completion rates are also declining, while poverty continues to put many adolescents at risk. These issues show that reducing teen pregnancies is not only a health concern but also a matter of child protection, education, and community support.

Related articles:

• Youth and Local Leaders Join Forces to Prevent Teen Pregnancies in Samar
• Southern Leyte Shows Progress in Reducing Teen Pregnancies

Key Insights

Dr. Ramir Blanco, public health specialist, synthesized the insights from both colloquiums, and noted that while each province has a unique context, some common lessons stand out:

• Partnership works best when youth are seen as equal partners. Adolescents bring energy and ideas that make health programs more effective.
• Local governments need to back policies with real budgets. Commitments become meaningful only when resources follow.
• Health services must be accessible and friendly to teens. Both provinces showed that when facilities are welcoming, more adolescents use them.
• The challenge of early adolescent pregnancies requires stronger systems. This goes beyond health and must involve education, social welfare, and community protection.

As the colloquiums showed, the most powerful change comes when young people and leaders share responsibility. When adolescents are given a voice and communities stand behind them, reducing teen pregnancies becomes not just a goal, but a shared achievement for healthier, brighter futures.

The Expanded Youth Leadership and Governance Program (EYLGP) in Southern Leyte is helping young people and local officials work together to reduce adolescent pregnancies.

A joint initiative of the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), EYLGP equips both youth leaders and local governments to work side by side in improving adolescent health.

When the program started in 2022, Southern Leyte already had a lower adolescent birth rate (ABR) than the national average. UNFPA challenged the province to aim higher: bring adolescent births down to zero by 2026. With this ambitious goal, the EYLGP scaled up lessons from Mindanao—where ZFF’s youth leadership programs helped lower teen pregnancies—by also including mayors, health officers, and community leaders in capacity-building. The idea was that with both youth champions and competent local governments, results could be achieved faster.

Now on its 22nd month, the program has shown strong results:

• All 10 partner local government units (LGUs) reduced adolescent births, with the provincial cohort ABR dropping by 29%—from 35.8 per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 in 2022 to 25.4 in 2024.
• This decline is nearly triple the national target rate of 10% per year, showing that Southern Leyte is moving faster than expected.
• Liloan and Tomas Oppus reported zero adolescent births in 2024, while six other LGUs are already below the 2026 program target of 21 per 1,000.

On contraceptive use, the province’s modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) for adolescents reached 3.6%. This is already enough to cover adolescent mothers but shows room to expand access so that sexually active teens who are not yet mothers can prevent their first pregnancies.

Much of this success came from innovations, including the TrucKabataan mobile health service, wider access to adolescent-friendly health facilities, and stronger multi-sectoral governance bodies that meet regularly to address youth concerns.

Youth are at the center of the program. They lead peer education, information campaigns, and initiatives to keep girls in school, showing that when given the chance, adolescents can be powerful advocates for their own health and future.

Despite these gains, challenges remain. Births among girls aged 10 to 14 years old increased, often linked to gender-based violence and access to harmful online content. These cases show the need for stronger child protection policies and community awareness.

The program will continue until 2026, with ZFF and partners coaching LGUs to sustain and expand initiatives. Technical support will also be provided so municipalities can strengthen their health facilities, access PhilHealth reimbursements, and integrate adolescent health into broader development plans.

As Dr. Dorie Lyn Balanoba, EYLGP Director at ZFF, emphasized during the EYLGP Colloquium in Southern Leyte last August 13, 2025, the ultimate goal goes beyond reducing pregnancies: “We also look forward to more empowered adolescents making healthy choices that allow them to achieve their goals and bright future.”

Southern Leyte’s experience shows that the EYLGP model—youth leaders working with responsive LGUs—can deliver results and transform local systems for adolescent health.

Mandaue City, a bustling center in Central Visayas, is proving that when reproductive health becomes a priority, women’s empowerment follows. For years, reproductive health services in the city were sparse—available only once a week, with just five trained providers serving thousands. Women, especially working mothers and adolescents, struggled to access timely and respectful care.

Cultural stigma and logistical barriers only deepened the gaps. That began to change in 2023, when Mandaue City joined The Challenge Initiative (TCI)-Philippines, a global platform, co-managed by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, that helps cities implement evidence-based, high-impact practices for reproductive health. The city faced a wake-up call: city reports revealed that adolescent birth rates had jumped from 14 per 1,000 girls in 2021 to 35 per 1,000 in 2023—more than double in just two years.

 

From Problem to Purpose

To respond, Mayor Jonas Cortes mobilized a City Leadership Team (CLT) composed of healthcare professionals, barangay officials, NGO partners, and youth advocates. With TCI’s technical coaching, Mandaue began scaling up its family planning and adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) programs, embedding rights-based, client-centered care into the city’s health system.

One major innovation: the Women’s Health Caravan (WHC)—a mobile outreach program designed to bring care directly to women in their communities. Launched in March 2024, the WHC is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: healthcare should be accessible, convenient, and empowering.

Services under the caravan include:

• Free consultations and pre/postnatal care
• Contraceptive services including implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Cervical and breast cancer screenings
• Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and counseling
• Adolescent-friendly, age-appropriate health services
• Health education on mental health, body image, and informed choice

At each site, the caravan begins with open discussions on reproductive rights and agency. Women are not only given access to services—they are encouraged to understand and assert their right to choose.

Related articles:

• Eight Cities Share Success in Family Planning and Adolescent Health
• Cities Lead the Way in Family Planning and Adolescent Health—Webinar Series to Spotlight Local Innovations

Results That Matter

Since the caravan’s launch, Mandaue has seen promising results. According to City reports:

• The modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) rose from 27% in 2023 to 30% in 2024, meeting the national target for the first time.
• The adolescent birth rate (ABR) decreased from 35 to 29 per 1,000 girls, signaling improved access to youth-responsive services.

To complement mobile outreach, Mandaue also opened the ‘Pink Corner’ at Parkmall—a permanent, woman-focused health space offering services such as breast check-up, pap smear, mental health consultation, and HIV testing in a welcoming environment.

Investing in Long-Term Impact

The city’s commitment isn’t just about short-term wins. From 2024 to 2025, Mandaue increased its local budget for reproductive health by 381%—a bold statement of political will. These funds support operations, training, outreach, and continued innovation in service delivery.

All 27 family planning providers across city health facilities have undergone Family Planning Competency-Based Training (FPCBT), focusing not only on clinical expertise but also on client dignity and respect. The Department of Health (DOH)-Central Visayas provided oversight to ensure quality and alignment with national health policies.

A Network of Support

Mandaue’s progress stems from strong partnerships:

• DOH-Central Visayas guided the city in integrating the ‘Life Stage Approach’ for UHC.
• Commission on Population and Development Region VII helped align services with population and development planning.
• Local women’s groups and schools extended outreach to underserved communities and young people.

Together, they created a system grounded in local realities, but aligned with national goals.

Looking Ahead

As Mandaue continues its journey, the Women’s Health Caravan is more than just a program. It is a declaration: that every woman, no matter her age, location, or income, deserves the right to make informed decisions about her health.

As City Health Officer Dr. Debra Catulong affirms, “this is what happens when healthcare is made human. When services are local, consistent, and rooted in trust, behavior change becomes possible—and lives are changed in the process.”

In Mandaue, the future of reproductive health is mobile, inclusive, and driven by choice.

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.

Related articles:

• Eight Cities Share Success in Family Planning and Adolescent Health
• Cities Lead the Way in Family Planning and Adolescent Health—Webinar Series to Spotlight Local Innovations

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.