Guidelines on Implementation of Administrative Order No. 2017-0005

July 5, 2017

DILG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 085-17

GUIDELINES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2017-0005 ENTITLED "GUIDELINES IN ACHIEVING DESIRED FAMILY SIZE THROUGH ACCELERATED AND SUSTAINED REDUCTION IN UNMET NEED FOR MODERN FAMILY PLANNING METHODS"

1.0 Background

1.1 Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law of 2012 (herein after RPRH Law) enacted last December 21, 2012 is a national policy that mandates the Philippine government to comprehensively address the needs of Filipino citizens when it comes to responsible parenthood and reproductive health.

1.2 The RPRH Law ensures also that unmet need for Modern Family Planning (MFP) Services are met in order to prevent unplanned and mistimed pregnancies that are associated with higher risk and complications during pregnancy and childbirth which have a long term socio-economic implications.

1.3 Also included as one of the United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to improve access to sexual and reproductive health care in developing countries, of which the Philippines commits to achieve by 2030.

1.4 Executive Order (EO) No. 12 which was signed by the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte last 9 January 2017 also seeks to intensify actions which are necessary to the attainment and sustainability of "Zero unmet need for modern family planning."

2.0 Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines in the implementation of the strategies necessary to address, accelerate and sustain reduction in unmet need for modern family planning (MFP), and attain desired family size among poor and marginalized. EATCcI

3.0 Scope/Coverage

All Provincial Governors, City and Municipal Mayors, Punong Barangays, DILG Regional Directors, ARMM Regional Governor, and DILG Bureau/Service Directors and all others concerned.

4.0 Definitions

For purposes of this Memorandum Circular, the following terms shall be defined as:

4.1 Unmet Need — Couples and individuals with unmet need are those who are fecund and sexually active, and report not wanting any more children or wanting to delay the next pregnancy but are not using any modern method of contraception (natural and artificial methods). This also includes couples and individuals who expressed their desire to shift from traditional method to modern family planning.

4.2 Desired Family Size — the desired number of children as agreed by a couple based in informed choice.

4.3 Poor — families and individuals that are listed in the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and/or list of Sponsored Program families profiled by PhilHealth.

5.0 Policy Content and Guidelines

5.1 Local Chief Executives are hereby directed to ensure compliance to the provisions of laws:

5.1.1 Conduct community based demand generation activities and provision of modern FP service, particularly in GIDAs and urban poor communities;

5.1.2 Take lead in mapping areas to locate couples and individuals with unmet need for modern FP and ensure the provision of quality MFP information and services by accelerating the following steps:

5.1.2.1 Identify the barangay/s where the poorest households are located (Local Social and Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) may coordinate with the concerned DSWD Regional Office for the updated LISTAHAN on poor families;

5.1.2.2 Determine the number of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and community volunteers (on health, population, nutrition, etc.) to be deployed to conduct house-to-house visits for the identification of clients with unmet need for MFP; DHITCc

5.1.2.3 Conduct an intensified door-to-door campaign to identify clients with unmet need for MFP with support from the DOH;

5.1.2.4 Establish a support mechanisms for the community volunteers (i.e., minimum allowance, transportation reimbursement, etc.) to ensure that all clients with unmet needs have been reached and identified/visited, reported and referred to appropriate facilities for services.

5.1.3 Capacitate and mobilize local stakeholders, to accelerate demand generation and provision of MFP commodities and services, including the designation of family planning point persons in health facilities;

5.1.4 Establish, ensure functionality and sustainability of Service Delivery Network (SDN);

5.1.5 Upgrade capacities of provincial/city hospitals as referral facility for the provision of all modern FP methods especially long acting and permanent methods in the LGU;

5.1.6 All LGU hospitals shall implement a recording and reporting system using the DOH operational guide in FP performance.

5.1.7 Allocate local funds necessary for ensuring universal access to reproductive health care services, including demand generation for FP and family training, commodities and services and other medical supplies.

5.1.8 Facilitate PhilHealth accreditation of healthcare providers for modern FP and utilization of PhilHealth reimbursements to support FP services;

5.1.9 Engage, collaborate, and/or partner with CSOs and the private sector in provision of modern FP services in their respective localities;

5.1.10 Develop local resolutions and ordinances in support to the implementation of this AO;

5.1.11 Ensure timely submission of Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) reports and Work Financial Plan (WFP) to Commission on Population (POPCOM);

5.1.12 Create and ensure the functionality of the Provincial Implementation Team (PIT), City Implementation Team (CIT) and the Municipal Implementation Team (MIT) to oversee smooth implementation and coordination of this AO; and cEaSHC

5.1.13 Provide supportive supervision, capacity building functions, program implementation reviews (as applicable).

5.2 All DILG Regional Directors and the ARMM Regional Governor are hereby directed to:

5.2.1 Cause the immediate and widest dissemination of this Memorandum Circular to all local government units within their respective regional jurisdictions;

5.2.2 Ensure RPRH funding is included in the Comprehensive Development Plan and Executive Legislative Agenda of the LGUs.

5.2.3 Include gender and sensitive and rights-based RPRH-related trainings in Local Government Academy.

5.2.4 Include performance measures on RPRH particularly in meeting unmet needs for family planning as one of the indicators for the Seal of Good Local Governance;

5.2.5 Monitor timely submission of reports by the LGU using the RPRH M&E Framework.

6.0 Effectivity

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

7.0 Approving Authority

(SGD.) CATALINO S. CUYOfficer-in-Charge

8.0 Feedback

For related queries, kindly contact the Bureau of Local Government Development at Telephone Number (02) 929-9235 or (02) 925-0356, or at email address [email protected].