CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Region X joins the global community in commemorating World Population Day 2026 on July 11 under the theme, “Realizing the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People for Their Futures.”
This year’s observance underscores the importance of empowering young people to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world, while ensuring that their rights, voices, and aspirations remain central to development efforts.
Young people aged 10–24 comprise nearly one-third of Northern Mindanao’s population.
Based on the 2024 Census of Population, this represents about 1.5 million adolescents and youth out of the region’s total population of 5.18 million.
As a critical segment of the population, investments in their health, education, skills development, and employment are vital to harnessing the region’s demographic potential.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), today’s generation of adolescents and young people is the largest in history, numbering approximately 1.9 billion globally.
The 2026 State of World Population Report notes that they are navigating rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, climate-related risks, and evolving social realities.
Their access to education, health services, decent work, and meaningful participation in decision-making will significantly shape sustainable development outcomes.
In Northern Mindanao, progress in adolescent health and development has been observed.
Regional data show that adolescents who have begun childbearing declined from 10.9 percent in 2022 to 6.4 percent in 2025, reflecting sustained investments and the coordinated efforts of local government units, national government agencies, schools, communities, parents and development partners.
This demonstrates the impact of targeted interventions in improving health outcomes and strengthening youth well-being.
However, challenges remain.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that 12.2 percent of Filipino youth all over the country aged 15–24 were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) as of April 2026, equivalent to about 2.46 million young people.
This is an increase from 10.6 percent in April 2025, underscoring the need to further expand access to quality education, skills development, training, and decent employment opportunities.
In response, CPD Region X advances the goals of World Population Day through Project 25@28, the region’s flagship systems approach to accelerating the reduction of adolescent pregnancy while enabling young people to reach their full potential.
Anchored on eight interconnected strategies, the initiative promotes SK-led youth interventions that strengthen youth participation and leadership; institutionalizes a POPDEV and Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH) data system for evidence-based planning; expands social protection and reintegration services for adolescent parents and their children (SPRPAPC); strengthens pregnancy tracking systems for early identification and intervention; reinforces protection and Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) mechanisms; enhances Teen Centers as youth-friendly spaces for information, counseling, and life skills development; supports the implementation of Reproductive Health Education (RHE) in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd); and strengthens the Information and Service Delivery Network (ISDN) for Adolescent Health and Development (AHD).
Together, these strategies equip young people with the knowledge, skills, services, and support they need to stay healthy, complete their education, pursue decent livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to regional development.
As the nation commemorates World Population Day 2026, CPD Region X calls on government agencies, local government units, schools, families, communities, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners to further strengthen collaboration in implementing the eight strategic pillars of Project 25@28 and other complementary youth-responsive initiatives.
Through stronger partnerships and sustained commitment, we can build safe, inclusive, and enabling environments where every young person in Northern Mindanao can exercise their rights, realize their hopes and aspirations, and achieve their full potential while contributing to a more prosperous, equitable, resilient, and sustainable Northern Mindanao.
Empowering young people today strengthens the resilience, productivity, and sustainable development of the region and the nation.
