MAMBURAO, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO (August 15, 2026) — Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan), a Palawan-based nonprofit, has been named a 2026 regional awardee of the Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Award in two categories: Initiatives on Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning and Initiatives on Adolescent Health and Development.
The awards, presented by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on Thursday, recognize exemplary initiatives that contribute to people-centered progress. They honor the legacy of Rafael M. Salas, the first Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and a global advocate for linking population issues with human development.
For 17 years, Roots of Health has worked to prevent unplanned and early pregnancies, expand access to reproductive and sexual health services, and strengthen community-based support for young people and families.
In Puerto Princesa City, the teen pregnancy rate declined by 53% between 2017 and 2025, alongside sustained efforts by Roots of Health, government, and community partners.
Roots of Health provides sexual and reproductive health education in schools and barangays and offers free family planning through its clinics and outreach missions. It also works with public health providers and local partners to improve the quality of reproductive health services and make them more accessible and non-judgmental.
The organization also brings HIV prevention, screening, and treatment to its clinics and communities across Palawan. This makes it easier for hesitant young people and others to seek care.
Since its founding, Roots of Health has reached more than 100,000 young people, served 22,000 clinic clients, trained more than 7,500 partners, and conducted more than 6,700 HIV screenings.
Accepting the awards on behalf of Roots of Health, Education Program Director Jan Michael Servando emphasized that the recognition reflects collective community work.
“This award is not simply a recognition of an organization. It is a recognition of what communities can achieve when young people, families, health workers, local governments, and civil society work together to help people lead healthier lives and have greater control over their futures,” Servando said.
The distinction comes as Roots of Health begins applying lessons from its work to cities and municipalities outside the province.
“We are proud of what we have accomplished together in Palawan,” Servando added. “As we bring our experiences beyond Palawan, we hope to carry with us the same spirit of partnership: learning together, building on what works, innovating for new realities, and creating lasting change.” ###
