Midwives across the Philippines are being urged to evolve into stronger advocates for women’s rights and reproductive choices, a key theme at the recent Midwives Summit 2025.
Dr. Bernabe Marinduque, Past President of the Philippine Society for Responsible Parenthood, highlighted the pivotal role of these healthcare professionals. He emphasized that strengthening midwives’ competencies, particularly in areas like long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), is essential for saving more mothers and newborns and empowering women to decide when and how many children to have.
‘Midwives must evolve into strong advocates for women’s rights-the right to decide when to get pregnant and how many children to have,’ said Dr. Marinduque. He added that improved education and supportive supervision would help save more mothers and newborns.
Summit Focus, Collaboration
The Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP), in partnership with Organon Philippines, organized the summit, themed ‘Sustaining Women’s Health – Well-being in Every Community.’ Held on October 7, 2025, at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City, the forum brought together midwives, government agencies, and development partners.
The event underscored the essential role of midwives in advancing Universal Health Care (UHC) and highlighted the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors to expand reproductive health access in underserved communities.
Midwives from across the country echoed the calls for empowerment. Sandra Rivera of IMAP Region III highlighted the importance of curriculum updates and the inclusion of LARCs in practice. She shared that these methods offer reliable, reversible protection, empowering women with more choices that fit their needs and life plans. Mona Lisa Diones of FPOP Iloilo succinctly captured the sentiment: ‘Midwives are the backbone of reproductive health care in the Philippines.’
Representing the private sector, Organon Philippines reaffirmed its support for midwifery development. Carole Lopez, External Affairs and Communications Lead for Organon in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines, stressed the importance of partnership: ‘Meaningful impact is only possible when government, healthcare professionals, and the private sector work together.’
‘Midwives are often the first and most trusted point of contact for women, and we’re committed to ensuring they have the right tools, training, and innovations to deliver quality care,’ added Lopez.
Government, Health Sector Commitment
Representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, the Commission on Population and Development (PopCom), the academe, and civil society also shared key updates and insights.
Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa affirmed midwives’ central role in community care: ‘Behind every safe birth and every healthy mother is a competent, compassionate, and courageous midwife.’ He added, ‘When we take care of women, they take care of everyone else, their children, their families, and the next generation of Filipinos.’
DOH also shared measures aimed at lowering maternal mortality and preventing adolescent pregnancies, including adolescent-friendly health services and the HPV vaccination program for Grade 4 girls.
PhilHealth officials outlined the YAKAP package (formerly Konsulta), which integrates primary care, cancer screening, and outpatient medicines.
Demographic opportunities
PopCom Executive Director Dr. Lisa Bersales, for her part, emphasized that linking demographic opportunities with health investments is key to sustainable development.
‘To fully benefit from our demographic opportunity, we must ensure that our people-especially women-are healthy and well-supported,’ she noted, underscoring family planning as a foundation for national progress.
The summit concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen midwifery education, supply chains, and community outreach-critical steps to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths and bring the promise of UHC closer to every Filipino woman.
‘May this gathering inspire us to gain new knowledge, develop practical skills, and renew our passion. By keeping midwives at the center of UHC implementation, we move one step closer to making quality health care a reality for all,’ said Patricia Gomez, IMAP Executive Director.