Companies urged to create family planning programs
Family planning makes good business sense shared the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)at the First National Conference on Family Planning in the Workplace, as it urged companies to start implementing family planning programs.
The conference, the first-ever to tackle the private sector’s role in supporting the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, brought together the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Commission on Population (POPCOM). The event also gathered 200 participants from a wide variety of industries who shared their experiences and learned best practices from UNFPA’s Business Action for Family Planning Access (BAFP) project.
Launched in 2014, the Business Action for Family Planning Access (BAFP) project encourages private sector engagement in family planning either in the workplace, community-based or as a core business.
Thirteen companies are currently enrolled in the program, representing various sectors such as export garment manufacturing, microfinance, canning, semiconductor production for export, pastries, agro-industries, automotive and highend aerospace products.
The program has been able to reach almost 1.4 million individuals through family planning sessions in the workplace and in communities.
Business benefits from family planning
ECOP Pr esident Donald G. Dee discussed how the topic was quite timely as businesses aim to remain competitive amidst a changing labor and employment landscape.
In the Philippines, the entrance of new young workers has significantly affected the current working environment. According to 2015 labor force survey (LFS 2015), almost half of the labor force population consists of young workers. Over 42 million Filipinos aged 15 years and above are part of the labor force, 47.1% of which are workers in their prime reproductive age.
Meanwhile, one in ten young Filipino women aged 15-19 have begun childbearing, with 8 per cent of these age groups already mothers and another 2 percent already pregnant with their first child, according to the results of the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
“As young people, particularly women, move into wage labor they are faced with larger difficulties associated with pregnancy and later on caring for their infants and young children. Women in the formal sector, the wage and salary workers, are sometimes ill-equipped and unable to provide the proper health care especially during stages of pregnancy,” said Dee.
In tough economic times, Dee said, “it’s important to remember that the absence of concrete workplace health program costs money. What’s more, our case studies show that a sound health program including family planning program in the workplace is linked to improved performance and profitability.”
Dee cited the benefits companies can gain through better policies and practices such as improved productivity through less sickness absence, cutting healthcare costs, keeping skilled workers
At the end of the day, this will encourage more options and competition for the lowest price and better service. The end consumers will be the winners,” he added.
AboitizPower started its push for renewable energyforty years ago, beginning with its run-of-river hydro subsidiary, Hedcor, then expanding later on to also include its geothermal and solar business units, AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI) and San Carlos Sun Power, Inc. (SacaSun), respectively.
Recognized under the Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication category of the Philippine Quill Awards, the Cleanergy campaign underscored AboitizPower’s deliberate efforts to become the power partner and neighbor of choice of its customers and host communities who are looking to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
Also part of AboitizPower’s Cleanergy portfolio are its educational facilities namely Cleanergy Center in Laguna and Cleanergy Park in Davao, which have remained as preferred destinations for people who want to learn Cleanergy in a fun and engaging manner. Both the Cleanergy Center and Cleanergy Park have been welcoming thousands of visitors annually.
In line with its commitment to sustain the growth of its Cleanergy brand as it strives for a balanced mix portfolio, AboitizPower’s 68.8-MW Manolo Fortich hydro in Bukidnon is also targeted for completion this year.
As a whole, the Aboitiz Group emerged as Top Company of the Year – second runner-up with a total of 12 Quill awards across various categories. (Press Release)