‘Floating clinic‘ to bring family planning to remote BARMM areas

MANILA, Philippines — Residents in some remote communities in Mindanao will soon have easier access to free family planning services as DKT Philippines Foundation launched the country’s first family planning “floating clinic“ in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The floating clinic, named “Hiraya” (dream or aspiration) and operating under the foundation’s Service Outreach and Distribution Extension (Sodex) Program, was unveiled at BangkaPro, its vessel builder in Taguig City on Thursday.

It will begin serving communities in Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur in September.

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The clinic will also offer free consultations and counseling, long-acting reversible contraceptives such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and two-rod implants, as well as temporary methods including pills, injectables, and condoms.

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“By bridging the gaps in access to quality, affordable, and culturally sensitive family planning services, [the facility] will empower women, couples, and families in hard-to-reach communities to make informed choices about their reproductive health and to plan the size and spacing of their families,” said Dr. Ahmad-Fawadz Israel, director general of the Ministry of Health, representing minister Dr. Kadil “Jojo” Sinolinding Jr.

Life-affirming services

Israel pointed out that, “in Islam, the religion teaches us the importance of balancing family size with physical, emotional, and financial capacities. This balance is crucial not only for the well-being of the family but also to safeguard the health of both the mother and the child or children.”

He said the Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam, teaches that whoever saves a life is as though they have saved all of humanity, adding that “this sacred guidance anchors our mission to extend life-affirming services to those in need.”

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He also cited Prophet Muhammad’s teaching that the best among people are those who bring the greatest benefit to others.

“As we move forward, we commit to expanding access to modern family planning methods, promoting informed choices, addressing misinformation and cultural barriers, and reducing teenage and unintended pregnancies,” Israel said.

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Reducing maternal deaths

Dr. Hardy Dumawing, program manager of National Family Planning under the Department of Health, emphasized that family planning is an essential health intervention under Universal Health Care, the country’s major healthcare reform.

The average Filipino woman now has 1.7 children over her lifetime, the lowest level on record, according to the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The latest total fertility rate marks a sharp drop from 4.1 children per woman recorded in 1993.

“So, we are already at 1.7 total fertility rate. But why do we keep investing in family planning? Because family planning is no longer a means to control the population. However, it is a means, a health intervention aimed at reducing maternal mortality, adolescent birth rate,” said Dumawing.

The maternal mortality ratio measures the number of women who die during pregnancy or childbirth, making it an important indicator of women’s health and of the effectiveness of healthcare systems in safeguarding mothers.

According to a report by the World Health Organization, the Philippines recorded 84 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2023.

While this marked a 28-percent improvement from the 117 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births recorded in 2010, the country still faces a challenge in reaching the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

Topography challenge

Dumawing said one of the Philippines’ challenges is its topography, with many islands that can be difficult to reach, especially when transporting heavy equipment or supplies.

He said the Hiraya initiative will bridge the gap.

Denise van Dijk, board chair of DKT Philippines Foundation Inc. and president of DKT Health Inc., said the foundation has, “for more than three decades ,…worked to remove barriers to family planning through innovation and strong partnerships.”

Van Dijk said the Sodex floating clinic marks another significant step toward that goal, helping extend access to family planning products and services to more communities based on their needs and preferences.

BangkoPro founder Romeo Orio said the Philippines’ remote islands pose a unique challenge in delivering healthcare, which the vessel seeks to address by bringing healthcare and family planning professionals directly to underserved communities.

“When this boat goes into operation, it’s not only going to be carrying passengers, it’s going to be carrying medicine, healthcare professionals. It’s going to be providing valuable family planning services to communities that may be hard to reach by others,” Orio said.

“Our work goes beyond providing services—we continuously look for ways to deliver care that is more accessible, responsive, and sustainable for the communities we serve,” said Loida Almendares, the foundation’s director of programs.

Expansion plans

During the press conference, Van Dijk said they “always work from a choice-based perspective,” educating clients and letting them choose the contraceptive that fits them most.

“We’ve shown that when public-private partners work together and when you have a community that supports it, the sky is the limit,” she told the Inquirer when asked about expansion plans.

“May there be calm waters, meaningful journeys, and many, many lives touched,” she said during the ceremonial ship christening where she broke a champagne bottle on Hiraya’s bow.

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Orio said “We’re not only turning over a boat, we’re not only turning over a vessel. We’re sending out a boat that can help change the lives of many people. So to Hiraya, may she sail safely, may she reach many communities and serve many families for many years to come.” /cb