About 8.6 million Filipino women are currently using family planning methods, higher than the 8.3 million recorded in 2022, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said in its latest report.

For modern methods of family planning, pills remain the most popular method, accounting for 34.48 percent of total current users, with injectables in second place at 20.66 percent. Implants recorded the highest increase in users, growing by 24.11 percent.

Meanwhile, the CPD also noted that births among women have fallen to 1.9 children, below the replacement level.

Data further showed that 14.5 percent of women have completed college, compared to 10.5 percent of men. Women likewise dominate in secondary education completion at 84.5 percent, versus 81.4 percent for men.

However, women’s labor force participation rate stands at 51.2 percent, lower than men’s 75.4 percent. Consequently, unemployment is higher for women at 8.2 percent, compared to men at 7.5 percent.

While the CPD emphasized that progress has been made in promoting women’s rights, “there is still much work to be done” in terms of economic participation.

"We may have come a long way but we still have more work to do. We need more opportunities, particularly in fields that are dominated by men. Let us remember that women have a multi-faceted role in the family, being the primary caregivers, taking responsibility for nurturing children and managing the household," CPD Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales said.

"It is important that we remain international in providing all women from different sectors with the opportunities and voice to create influence and change, especially in society," Bersales added.

The Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (PPD-POA) 2023–2028, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through Memorandum Circular 40 in November 2023, covers eight key strategies. These include the further development of the population, covering women from different demographics.

Initiatives in promoting responsible parenthood and family planning, advancing adolescent health and development, supporting labor force empowerment and active, healthy aging, and accelerating inclusive development among marginalized population sectors all contain specific programs for women and girls.

"As we celebrate national women’s month for this year, let us foster tangible and inclusive calls to action from various groups, providing a platform to voice women's needs for economic success and meaningful empowerment, as we collectively strive to find solutions for women’s pressing problems," Bersales furthered.