WITH about a month to go before the national and local elections, the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom) strongly advocated that the next administration should continue the country's family planning (FP) program as more Filipinos in recent years had appreciated its concept and embraced its benefits.

The agency noted the current strong patronage of 8.1 million Filipino couples, partners and individuals in terms of family planning practice and usage with a brisk uptake during President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's tenure. According to the Department of Health (DoH)'s Field Health Services Information System (FHSIS), the figure was 2 million more or about 25-percent higher than in 2016 when the Chief Executive assumed office.