THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.B.NO. 3
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Introduced by Senator-Rodolfo G. Biazon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines currently ranks 12'h among the most populated countries in the 
world (US Census Bureau, 2003) with our total population at 82 million. And with an 
annual growth rate of 2.36%, our population is expected to double in 29 years (National 
Statistics Office). The 2.36 growth rate is still very high compared to our ASEAN 
neighbors such as Thailand and Indonesia, which have reduced their growth rates to 1.4 
and 1.6, respectively. While Thailand and the Philippines had almost the same population 
size in 1965, our country had about 14 million more people than Thailand in 2000 
(Orbeta, 2002). 
Our large and still rapidly growing population impacts on the country's 
development. Rapid population growth impacts on the country's development. Our large 
population heavily strains the government's capacity to provide basic social services, 
develop the rural areas, and stem the tide of rapid rural-to-wban migration. Congestion in 
many urban centers have led to a host of problems such as housing shortage, 
unemployment, poor nutrition, flooding, diseases, inadequate educational facilities and 
shortage in educators, pollution, and a breakdown in the peace and order situation. 
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In 2003, the government spent a mere 37 centavos per day for the health care of every 
Filipino. The health budget is 4 times smaller than defense and 20 times smaller than 
the allocation for debt servicing (ISSA, 2003). 
There is only 1 government doctor for every 28,493 people; 1 government nurse for 
every 16,986; and 1 government midwife for every 5,193; there is only one rural 
health unit to provide service to 29,746 people (ISSA, 2003); 
There is a shortage of 39,383 classrooms and a teacher shortage of 49,212 (Phil. Star; 
11 March 2004). 
Only 67 percent of students entering grade 1 complete the elementary level (UN, 
2003). 
Approximately 3.4 million Filipinos are unemployed while 4.6 million are 
underemployed (NSO, 2002). 
The country's rapidly growing population is also one among the crucial factors that 
need to be addressed in the battle against intergenerational poverty. 39.4 percent of our 
population or almost 31 million Filipinos live on less than fifty pesos a day (UN, 2003). 
Studies have also revealed that poverty incidence is greater among families that have 
more children. Only 23.8% of families with four members are poor in contrast to almost 
half (48.7%) of families with seven members that are poor (NSO 2000). 


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By age bracket, 37 percent of the total population belongs to the 0-14 age group 
while 4 percent to that of 65 and above. Therefore, there exists a high dependency ratio 
that strains our resources both at the household and national levels @SO, 2000). Per 
capita income, which was 44,591 pesos in 2000 or roughly 124 pesos per person per day, 
is one of the lowest in the world (UN, 2003). We also have the lowest 6DP per capita 
growth in East and Southeast Asia at less than 1.5% (Pernia, 2003). 
Moreover, our unmanaged population growth negatively impacts on the 
environment’s carrying capacity that puts increased pressure on various ecosystems. 
Because of systemic degradation due to a variety of factors including logging, kaingin, 
and population encroachment, total forest cover has decreased from 6.2 million hectares 
in 1990 to 5.4 million hectares in 1997, consequently reducing its share to total land area 
from 21% to 18% (UN, 2003). Each person in highly urbanized cities shch as Quezon 
City, Davao City, and Cebu City produces 0.54 kilograms of garbage epery day; This 
translates to a daily average of 6,600 tons of garbage for the entire Metro Manila, 621 
tons for Davao City, and 387 tons for Cebu City (ADB and DENR, 7003). The air 
pollution level in Metro Manila is three times higher than the standard set by the World 
Health Organization for air quality (PLCPD, 2000). Fifty out of the co4try’s 421 river 
systems are now biologically dead (PLCPD, 2000). 
The multi-faceted nature of the problems besetting our country and its people 
calls for the vital recognition of the interdependent relationship between population and 
sustainable development. Achieving rational population growth and distribution should 
be defined in the context of available resources and the country’s carrying capacity, and 
should respect every Filipino’s right to self-determination by empowering them to decide 
rationally through the provision of complete and up-to-date information and quality 
services. 
The government should include initiatives to build capabilities to integrate 
population variables, including migration and urbanization, into development policies, 
plans and programs at the national, regional and local levels. It is hoped that this bill will 
address such an urgent and important goal. 
The passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
RODOLFO G. BIAZON 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 
Introduced By Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN INTEGRATED POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY, 
STRENGTHENING ITS IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House ofRepresentutives ofthe Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Integrated Population and 
Development Act. " 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. - The State shall promote a just and dynamic social 
order that shall ensure the prosperity of the country and free the people from poverty through 
policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of 
living and improved quality of life for all. 
The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful 
e c o 1 o gy . 
Towards this end, the State shall ensure sustainable development and guarantee human 
rights. As such, it shall recognize the dynamic interrelationships of population, development and 
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Sec. 3. Objectives. - The State shall create an enabling environment where population, 
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development and environment-sensitive policies and programs are inextricably linked 
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instruments for the realization of a healthy, educated, and empowered people. The State shall 
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also prioritize human development, promote human dignity and respect human rights, including 
environment through their integration into national and local policies, programs, strategies and 
plans including the appropriation, allocation and mobilization of resources at all levels. 
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aspects. 
the right to development in all critical areas covering psycho-social, political and economic 
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To this end, the State must prioritize the attainment of social equity in society, the 
promotion of the welfare and rights of the child, the delivery of comprehensive health services 
with focus on the vulnerable groupskctors, and ensure gender equity and equality in 
development. The objectives of such policy are the following: 
1. To fully integrate population concerns into the development strategies, planning, and 
implementation of programs, including resource mobilization and allocation at all levels of 
government to ensure that people shall be in the center of all development efforts; 
2. To undertake programs which address the interrelationship between population, 
development, and environment; 
3. To ensure equity in development, reasonable utilization and consumption of 
resources, and provision of social safety nets for vulnerable groups; 
4. To achieve equality and equity based on harmonious partnership between women and 
men. Women’s contributions to sustainable development shall be enhanced through their full 
involvement in policy-and decision-malting processes at all stages and participation in all aspects 
of production, employment, income-generating activities, politics, governance, education, health, 
science and technology, sports, culture and other gender-sensitive activities; 
5 .  To enable couples or parents decide their family size in the context of responsible 
parenthood and sustainable development and in accordance with their personal, moral, religious 
and cultural beliefs and values; 
6. To support the family, contribute to its stability and harmony, promote equality of 
rights and opportunities for family members, especially women and children, and provide 
assistance to solo-parent households; 
7. To foster a more balanced spatial distribution of the population by promoting in an 
integrated manner the equitable and ecologically sustainable development of major sending and 
receiving areas; 
8. To incorporate the perspectives and needs of women, children and youth, indigenous 
communities, the elderly and persons with disabilities into the design, implementation, 
monitoring and evaluation of population, development and environment programs; 
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9. To promote an effective partnership at all levels between and among the national 
government and the local government units, the private sector and the civil society, in the design, 
implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of programs relating to population, 
development and environment; 
10. To ensure adequate comprehensive health care information and services; 
1 1. To assess population trends in order to achieve eventual population stabilization 
within the context of social and economic development and respect for human rights; 
12. To strengthen Government capacity to update relevant population development 
information, studies and researches to establish a factual basis for understanding and anticipating 
the interrelationships of population and socio-economic and environmental variables, and to meet 
the need to formulate, implement, monitor, and evaluate sustainable population and development 
strategies; and 
13. To support policies protecting the welfare of Filipino migrants, giving attention to the 
special needs of overseas Filipino workers and trafficked persons; and the effects of overseas 
employment on the integrity and well-being of the family on on-hand, and on the country's long- 
term sustainable development, on the other. 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall be 
defined as follows: 
1. Gender equality - 
the absence of discrimination, on the basis of a person's sex, in 
opportunities, in the allocation of resources or benefits, or in access to services. 
2. Gender equity - fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and 
responsibilities between women and men, and often requires women-specific projects and 
programs to end existing inequalities. 
3. Responsible parenthood - 
the will and the ability of couples to respond to the needs 
and aspirations of the family and children in accordance with their cultural and religious beliefs. 
4. Sustainable development - development that meets the needs of the present without 
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 
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5. Human development - a process of expanding human choices by enabling people to 
enjoy long, healthy and creative lives. The three essential capabilities for human development are 
for people to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable and to have access to resources 
needed for a decent standard of living. 
6. Spatial distribution - the patterns of settlement and dispersal of population within a 
country or other sub-national area. 
7. Migration - the movement of people into or out of an area for the purpose of 
establishing a new permanent residence in the area of destination, crossing a defined territorial 
boundary. 
SEC. 5. Implementing Mechanism. - All the national, regional, local and government 
agencies are hereby tasked to analyze and integrate on a continuing basis the interrelated 
population, development and environment variables into the planning, implementation, 
allocation, mobilization of resources and evaluation of their respective programs. 
a. This Act shall provide the means for a stronger and more effective partnership 
between and among the government agencies, the private sector and civil society at all levels, and 
the provision of the necessary support to expand their work more effectively among the citizenry. 
b. The Commission on Population (POPCOM) shall serve as the central coordinating 
body for the implementation of this Act. It shall be an attached agency of the National Economic 
and Development Authority (NEDA). Specifically, it shall: 
1. Provide technical advice and support, including capability building to the 
national, regional and local agencies, including local government units in the implementation of 
this Act. 
2. Formulate a population investment plan; 
3 .  Coordinate, monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Act; 
4. Educate and inform the public about the implications of the population, 
development and environment variables for the sustainable development of the country; 
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Development Report (SPPDR); and 
5. Act as the government's clearinghouse and resource center for population and 
development information and data through an annual State of the Philippine Population and 
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6. Promote and provide the mech' nism and support for the full participation of 
civil society, the private sector and the citizepy in the planning and implementation of 
population and development programs and project pursuant to this Act. 
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the population and development (POPDEV) perspective 
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is incorporated into the current national 
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c. 
The following agencies, in addition o their primary mandates and functions, are 
hereby tasked to effectively carry out the provisio 
of this Act: 
1. The National Economic and De elopment Authority (NEDA) shall ensure that 
and regional development plans of all government ine agencies; 
2. 
The Department of Health 
( 1  OH) shall plan, coordinate and implement 
programs on comprehensive health care advantage us to the vulnerable sectors; 
3. The Department of Interior 
d Local Government (DILG) shall provide 
support for policy formulation and coordination with LGUs in ensuring integration of population 
and development in the local development planning processes and programs; 
4. The Department of Education (DepEd) shall integrate into its basic education 
curriculum learning concepts on population, health, environment, and development. It shall 
likewise design and implement opportunities for greater access to the vulnerable groups/ sectors. 
5. 
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall 
integrate into the planning and implementation of its programs the population and development 
variables including the development and dissemination of environment and sustainable 
development indicators; 
6. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in coordination 
with the LGUs shall institutionalize the provision of day-care services, emphasizing early 
childhood care and development, in every barangay with particular focus on the children of poor 
families and the girl-child. It shall likewise design appropriate support mechanisms to address the 
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special needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities, consistent with and supplementary to 
existing laws; 
7. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall plan, coordinate and 
implement programs related to the equalization of employment opportunities between men and 
women and the promotion of gender equality and equity in the workplace. The Philippine 
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration (OWWA) under the Department of Labor and Employment shall integrate 
corresponding 'adjustments into their program and services relating to the special needs of 
Filipino migrant workers, particularly women, and the prevention of trafficking and violence in 
persons; 
8. The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) shall 
promote a sustainable, ecologically sound and well-planned urban development and housing 
delivery system by consistently integrating the National Urban Development and Housing 
Framework with population and development variables and goals; Provided, That the vulnerable 
sectors shall be accorded priority access to housing benefits and opportunities; 
9. The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) shall plan, implement and 
evaluate population and development programs and provides opportunities intended to benefit 
the basic sectors; 
10. The National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) shall 
plan, coordinate and implement programs relating to women empowerment and women's rights, 
including the mainstreaming of gender equality and equity in both national and local levels; 
11. The National Youth Commission (NYC), through the Sangguniang Kabataan 
and its affiliate organizations, shall plan and implement at all levels policies and programs that 
promote the health and rights of adolescents, especially young women; 
12. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall 
plan, coordinate and implement programs that integrate population, development and 
comprehensive health issues in the development of life skills and competencies; 
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13. The UP Population Institute (UPPI) shall promote the proper understanding 
of population, economic and sustainable development, and environment through the conduct of 
population health research, training, and research dissemination among policy-makers, program 
managers, local government executives and civil society; 
14. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall conduct a comprehensive 
information dissemination program to support the purposes of this Act; and 
15. The Leagues shall provide representation to all the local government units, 
apart from those that are already defined under the Local Government Code, in the crafting of 
policies, and in the development and implementation of programs and projects pursuant to the 
integrated population and development goals of this Act. 
c. The implementation of this mandate shall be integrated in the regular budgets of the 
agencies enumerated herein. 
d. The private sector consisting of all individual corporations, companies, enterprises, 
and partnerships, operating for profit, including their business organizations and chambers, shall 
assist in the program implementation of population and development goals of the State as part of 
their service to their employees and in the performance of their social responsibility; 
e. The civil society shall represent the interest of the basic sectors in the crafting of 
policies, and in the development of programs and projects pursuant to the population and 
development goals of the State. 
Sec.. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The NEDA in coordination with all 
the agencies herein mentioned, and with a representative each from the private sector and civil 
society shall formulate the IRR within thirty (30) days upon approval of this Act. 
Sec. 7. Reporting Requirements. - Before the end of April each year, POPCOM shall 
submit an annual State of the Philippine Population and Development Report (SPPDR) to the 
President of the Philippines, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives. The report shall provide a definitive and comprehensive assessment of the 
implementation of this Act and recommend appropriate priorities for executive and legislative 
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actions. The report shall be printed and disseminated to all national agencies, the LGUs, civil 
society and the private sector involved in said programs. 
Sec. 8. SeparabiIity Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
Sec. 9. 
Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and 
regulations, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended 
or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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