Title
Establishing National Population Policy and Commission
Law
Republic Act No. 6365
Decision Date
Aug 16, 1971
The Population Act of the Philippines establishes the Commission on Population to address the challenges of high population growth and improve the economic well-being of Filipinos through a national family planning program, while respecting religious beliefs.
population policy
family planning
national program
A

Policy declaration and program elements

  • Section 2 declares that a national program of family planning will be undertaken that respects the religious beliefs of the individuals involved.
  • Section 2 declares that the national population policy and program include:
    • Establishment and adoption of quantitative goals.
    • Promotion of broad understanding of the effects of alternative rates of population growth on family and nation welfare.
    • Making family planning part of a broad educational program.
    • Providing safe and effective means to couples who desire to space or limit family size.
    • Adoption of policies and programs to reduce mortality and morbidity rates.
    • Adoption of policies and programs guiding and regulating labor participation, internal migration, and spatial distribution of population.
    • Establishing and maintaining regular contact with international agencies and private organizations concerned with population problems.

Commission on Population: creation and composition

  • Section 3 creates a Commission on Population in the Office of the President.
  • The Commission is composed of:
    • The Secretary of Education.
    • The Secretary of Health.
    • The Secretary of Social Welfare.
    • The Commissioner of National Integration.
    • The Presidential Arm on Community Development.
    • The Director of the University of the Philippines Population Institute. (Section 3)
  • The President appoints, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, a representative from each of these entities for a term of five years:
    • Philippine Press Institute
    • National League of Puericulture Centers Inc.
    • Philippine Medical Association
    • Family Planning Organization of the Philippines
    • Responsible Parenthood Council
    • Institute of Maternal and Child Health (Section 3)

Functions and duties of the Commission

  • The Commission formulates and adopts coherent, integrated and comprehensive long-term plans, programs and recommendations on population linked to economic and social development, consistent with and implementing the population policy. (Section 4(a))
  • Population plans, programs, and recommendations must be submitted to and approved by the President, upon the recommendation of the National Economic Council. (Section 4(a))
  • The National Economic Council must act on such plans, programs, and recommendations not later than sixty days from receipt. (Section 4(a))
  • The Commission receives and approves project proposals and coordinates and evaluates their implementation in accordance with approved plans and programs. (Section 4(b))
  • The Commission puts up family planning clinics in cooperation with the Department of Health. (Section 4(c))
  • The Commission undertakes action projects as are necessary. (Section 4(d))
  • The Commission undertakes, promotes, and publishes studies and investigations on Philippine population in all its aspects. (Section 4(e))
  • The Commission assembles and disseminates technical and scientific information relating to medical, social, economic and cultural phenomena as these affect or are affected by population. (Section 4(f))
  • The Commission submits an annual report to the President and Congress on plans, programs, and progress of population activities, and it may require all concerned agencies to provide information needed for the report preparation. (Section 4(g))
  • The Commission adopts rules of procedure for its government. (Section 4(h))
  • The Commission may receive and accept from sources within and without the Philippines grants or donations of equipment, materials or services for its own use and not for sale, for which:
    • The grants or donations are exempt from gift taxes; and
    • They are deductible from the net taxable income of the grantor or donor and the donee, upon certification of the Commission. (Section 4(i))
  • The Commission must disclose grants or donations received under this rule to Congress through the annual report. (Section 4(i))
  • The Commission performs such duties as proper authorities may from time to time direct it to undertake. (Section 4(j))
  • The Commission may call upon any department, bureau, office, or agency or instrumentality for assistance and may require assistance in performing its functions. (Section 4(k))

Leadership, meetings, and executive machinery

  • The Commission elects its Chairman from among its members. (Section 5(a))
  • The Chairman is responsible for calling and presiding over meetings and acts on behalf of the Commission. (Section 5(a))
  • The Chairman may receive gifts or donations of any form and from any source, but the Chairman’s administration, obligation, and disbursement of such gifts or donations require approval by a majority of the Commission’s members. (Section 5(a))
  • The Chairman hires and maintains a staff to carry out the Commission’s purposes and objectives in accordance with the terms of the donation; in the absence of such terms, the Commission determines the manner in conjunction with Section four, paragraph (i). (Section 5(a))
  • Not more than 15% of the funds of the Commission may be used for administration expenses. (Section 5(a))
  • The Commission meets at least once every four months, and additionally at the call of the Chairman. (Section 6(a))
  • The Chairman may constitute continuing or ad hoc committees of Commission members or other experts as needed to conduct studies or assist the Commission in discharging its functions. (Section 6(a))
  • The Commission has an Executive Committee that acts when the Commission is not in session. (Section 7(a))
  • The Executive Committee is composed of:
    • The Chairman of the Commission (as Chairman).
    • The Secretary of Health, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Social Welfare.
    • The Commissioner of National Integration.
    • The Presidential Arm on Community Development.
    • The Responsible Parenthood Council.
    • The Director of the University of the Philippines Population Institute.
    • The representative of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines.
    • The Director of the Institute of Maternal and Child Health.
    • A representative from the National League of Puericulture Centers, Inc. (Section 7(a))
  • The Executive Committee meets at least once a month or at the call of the Chairman. (Section 7(a))

Executive Director and Commission staff

  • The Commission has an Executive Director who acts as the action officer and serves as secretary of the Commission and the Executive Committee. (Section 8(a))
  • The Executive Director is appointed by the Chairman with the consent of the Commission. (Section 8(a))
  • Under the Chairman’s direction and supervision, the Executive Director is responsible for day-to-day operation of the national population program and day-to-day decisions. (Section 8(b))
  • The Executive Director prepares periodic reviews of program progress, prepares annual budget estimates, and recommends policy to the Commission. (Section 8(b))
  • The Executive Director performs other duties prescribed by the Commission. (Section 8(b))
  • The Commission has other personnel as may be necessary and may be assisted by personnel assigned or detailed from departments, bureaus, offices, or instrumentalities of the Government, arranged as the Chairman deems necessary. (Section 8(c))

Annual reporting to Congress

  • The Commission submits an annual report to both Houses of Congress not later than thirty days after the opening of the regular session each year. (Section 9(a))
  • The annual report states the Commission’s achievement, plans and projects, and defines problems encountered in the preceding year and recommended solutions and actions or measures expected of Congress, if any. (Section 9(a)

Appropriations for Commission operations

  • Section 10 authorizes PHP 4.5 million to be appropriated as operating funds for the Commission starting the fiscal year 1972, from any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. (Section 10(a))
  • The appropriation includes disbursement of the equivalent of USD 350,000 as the contribution of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities for calendar year 1972. (Section 10(a))
  • At least 75% of the USD 350,000 amount must be used to finance population projects in the Philippines pursuant to the Act and approved by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. (Section 10(a))
  • The Commission may increase or decrease the USD contribution amount in succeeding years based on its financial position. (Section 10(a))
  • This appropriation is included in the annual General Appropriations Act thereafter. (Section 10(a))

Repeal, separability, and effectivity

  • Section 11 repeals any and all Acts, statutes, rules, regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the Act.
  • Section 12 provides separability: if any part is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions are not affected.
  • Section 13 provides that the Act takes effect upon approval.
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