Preparing for Our Future: Mainstreaming the Population, Health and Environment Link in Governance

As the country anticipates the turnout of the 2010 national elections, population, health and environment (PHE) advocates busily engage in planning for its possible outcome, as preparations for the 4th PHE National Conference get underway.

Set to be held after the conduct of the 2010 national elections, the 4th PHE National Conference aims to convince local and national governments to implement PHE as an approach in programming and/or consolidate PHE initiatives. Various practices have shown that integrated PHE programs not only promote equity, health and environmental stewardship but are also proven to be more efficient and effective than when population, health and environmental issues are addressed separately.

With the theme, “Changing Times, Varying Climate: Mainstreaming Population, Health and Environment (PHE) in Governance,” the Conference also aims to heighten calls for decisive action on the need for climate change adaptation, especially in light of the devastation brought about by typhoons Ondoy (Ketsana) and Pepeng (Parma).

First held in Antipolo City in 2004, the PHE Conference is a biennial gathering of local and international delegates from the government, civil society, private sector, and the media that aims to broaden the understanding and appreciation among various stakeholders of the value of linking population, health and environment factors in addressing development goals. Said gathering also provides the venue for showcasing and refining various PHE practices of local governments.

In particular, the 4th PHE National Conference will highlight current impacts of population activities on the environment and the well-being of people after the introduction of PHE as an approach eight years ago. Several scaled up practices will be reported and subjected to further discussion and dialogue with the aim of improving their integration in local government plans and programs. The opening plenary will provide local government delegates with a comprehensive overview of PHE and the extent with which it has been implemented at the community level. This will be followed by a series of parallel and satellite sessions that will tackle important aspects of PHE to encompass the whole program and project cycle.

To be highlighted is the consideration of PHE as an approach that is essential to climate change adaptation as well as to disaster risk reduction. Parallel to increasing knowledge would be the need to improve existing competencies of PHE advocates and practitioners through skills building sessions. The conference will culminate with a definitive commitment to PHE program implementation at the level of the community and local government with calls for the national government to provide the necessary political and policy support.

This year’s Conference Secretariat is the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), with the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) as Conference Host. Member organizations of the PHE Network include the Balay Rehabilitation Center, Conservation International (CI)-Philippines, Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), World Wildlife Fund Philippines (WWF), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), Commission on Population (POPCOM), Path Foundation Philippines, EED- Task Force on Indigenous Peoples, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Forum for Family Planning and Development, Health Action Information Network (HAIN), Office of the Quezon City Vice Mayor, Oxfam GB-Philippines, Pasig City Council on Population and Development, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation (PLCPD), Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare (PNGOC), Population Reference Bureau (PRB), Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, Quezon City Council on Population and Development, Save the Children US Country Office, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), and University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI).