REPORT ON EVALUATION OF THE POPULATION PLANNING II PROJECT OF THE PHILIPPINE POPULATION PLANNING PROGRAM (OPERATIONAL YEAR ONE)

REPORT IS BASED ON 4 REGIONAL FIELD EVALUATIONS (ATTACHED TO DOCUMENT). IN ALL 4 REGIONS, POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR THE POPULATION PLANNING PROGRAM IS FAIRLY HIGH. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SEEM TO BE MAKING EFFORTS TO ASSUME AN INCREASING SHARE OF PROGRAM COSTS. HOWEVER, SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS DO NOT REGARD THEMSELVES AS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR PROGRAM PERFORMANCE IN THEIR AREAS. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT THE GOP STRESS LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND AT THE SAME TIME, PROVIDE GRANTS-IN-AID TO LOCAL OFFICIALS WHEN LOCAL RESOURCES FALL SHORT. AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ASSUME A HEAVIER SHARE OF PROGRAM COSTS, THE OUTREACH PROGRAM MAY NOT PROVE TO BE FINANCIALLY VIABLE. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT THE OUTREACH PROGRAM BE CONTINUED AT LEAST UNTIL ITS IMPACT ON CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND FERTILITY CAN BE ASSESSED. LACK OF COORDINATION DUE TO THE RUSHED PACE OF INITIAL OPERATIONS HAS RESULTED IN SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS AND HAS HAMPERED SMOOTH DELIVERY OF SERVICES. STRENGTHENING OF THE "BOTTOM-UP" PLANNING CONCEPT IS RECOMMENDED FOR MORE REALISTIC PLANNING AND TARGET-SETTING. THE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM IS OF QUESTIONABLE QUALITY. SOME DOUBLE-COUNTING OF ACCEPTORS HAS OCCURRED. MORE TRAINING AND AN INTERNAL SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND AUDITS ARE NEEDED. TRAINING PROVIDED TO FULL TIME OUTREACH WORKERS (FTOW'S) STRESSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MORE THAN FAMILY PLANNING. CONSEQUENTLY, FTOW'S ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE PROPER ADVICE ON THE PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS, NEITHER CAN THEY DEAL WITH THE QUESTIONS REGARDING SIDE-EFFECTS. ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS RECOMMENDED. THE "BARANGAY SUPPLY POINT OFFICERS" (BSPO'S) WORK ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS AND ARE THE KEY IN THE ENTIRE OUTREACH SERVICE DELIVERY SCHEME. A COMMITTEE SHOULD BE FORMED TO STUDY WHAT KIND OF INCENTIVES MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE CONTINUED BSPO INTEREST. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE IMPROVING COORDINATION, INCREASING SUBSIDIES TO CLINICS FOR STERILIZATIONS PERFORMED, AND HOLDING REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN USAID AND THE POPULATION COMMISSION IN ORDER TO OVERCOME PAST DISCORDANT RELATIONS.