MARAWI CITY (PIA)–To ensure an improved mechanism and support to strengthen the implementation of the Philippine population management program in BARMM, a measure seeking to establish the Bangsamoro Commission on Population Management and Development has been filed in the Bangsamoro Parliament.
BTA Bill No. 110, or the Bangsamoro Commission on Population and Development Act of 2022, authored by the Government of the Day, seeks to create an enabling environment for people to achieve their development goals through a well-managed population.
MP Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. says that a well-managed population has processes and results that are consistent, complementary, and help the socioeconomic and human development of the region.
The office, which is part of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, is in charge of making suggestions for, planning, coordinating, implementing, and keeping an eye on policies and programs for population management and development in the Bangsamoro region.
Under the proposed measure, the commission will have the same structure as the Population Commission, which is overseen by the National Economic and Development Authority. This will make sure that mechanisms work well from the national to the local level.
The office will be responsible for the following: coming up with and approving long-term plans, programs, and recommendations on population; recommending and putting Bangsamoro population and development policies into action; helping couples and individuals have the number and space of children they want; making sure family planning is available; and working with relevant national agencies, among other things.
The office will also create the Population Management and Development Program, in the context of human rights, gender equality, and existing cultural norms and religious convictions of the people to ensure sustainable human and socio-economic development and better health outcomes in the region.
The program focuses on the health and development of teenagers, the integration of population and sustainable development, and reproductive health.
According to the results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2020 Census Population and Housing, BARMM has a population of 4.4 million. This is an increase of 3.26 percent from 2015, when the population was 2.89 million.
According to the PSA population projections for 2010–2045, the Bangsamoro region will have the highest average annual growth rate of 21.2% and a fertility rate of 3.1% in 2017. (BTA/PIA Lanao del Sur)
