Development of Peoples Foundation

The Development of Peoples Foundation, Inc. (DPF) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation based in the Davao City in the Philippines and established in 1969 by a group of Catholic activists. Guided by Paulo Freire’s principle of liberating the oppressed, DFP aims to improve the health and socioeconomic conditions of the urban slum dwellers. DPF’s mission is to empower marginalised groups by providing integrated reproductive health (RH) care, to mainstream gender and RH and to develop leaders for RH and gender equality advocacy.

Currently DPF works on the following campaigns and projects:

• Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
• No to Privatization of Public Hospitals
• Popularization of Republic Act 2012 or Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act

Advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) DFP meets with a strong opposition from the Catholic Church. Further challenges in advancement of SRHR are posed by the backward mind-set of the local authorities, limited resources and lack of youth advocates. However, there are also signs of progress. Progressive lay members organised into a group called Catholics for Reproductive Health. Mayor of the Davao City allocated resources for modern contraception. The public is open to discussion on sex, sexuality and reproductive health, but abortion, while recognized as a public health problem, is still frowned upon.

For campaigning and awareness raising DFP often uses dance protest and community theater. These tools are preferred as they attract more attention and interest both from the public and the media than any other tool.

For more information about the organisation, please see DFP’s leaflet (PAGE1, PAGE2).