KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — South Cotabato’s people-centered approach to Population and Development (POPDEV) has earned regional recognition as Mahintana Foundation, Inc. took First Place in the 2026 Rafael M. Salas Kaunlarang Pantao Award (RMSKPA) – Population and Development Category in SOCCSKSARGEN.
The recognition highlights the value of sustained collaboration between the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, through the Office of the Provincial Population Officer (OPPO) and Mahintana Foundation in advancing programs that respond to the needs of individuals, families, young people, and communities.
For Melanie C. Chiva, Provincial Population Officer, the nomination reflected not only Mahintana Foundation’s accomplishments, but the strength of a partnership aligned with the province’s population program and development goals.
“We firmly believe that the organization is highly deserving of this prestigious recognition,” Chiva stated in the endorsement, citing Mahintana Foundation’s dedication and active partnership in implementing programs and activities aligned with the goals of the population program.
Mahintana Foundation was endorsed by the OPPO as the official nominee of the Province of South Cotabato for the 2026 RMSKPA regional search, with the nomination anchored on the foundation’s continuing partnership in implementing POPDEV programs and initiatives across the province.
In the endorsement signed by Provincial Population Officer, Mahintana Foundation was described as one of OPPO’s most active and steadfast partners in advancing population and development initiatives.
The endorsement cited the foundation’s sustained commitment to community development and people-centered interventions, particularly in responsible parenthood and family planning, adolescent health and development, community empowerment, and other POPDEV-related advocacies.
It also recognized the organization’s innovative approaches, collaborative efforts, and contribution to the well-being of individuals, families, and communities, the endorsement further explained.
The regional recognition was formally presented on September 21, 2026, at the Provincial Capitol of South Cotabato in Koronadal City, where the Commission on Population and Development XII awarded Mahintana Foundation the plaque for First Place in the 2026 RMSKPA Search for Transformative Population and Development Strategies by Civil Society Organizations and Private Sector Partners – POPDEV Category in SOCCSKSARGEN Region.
During the awarding ceremony, CPD XII Regional Director Desiree Concepcion U. Garganian, MHSS, emphasized that the recognition’s significance goes beyond the organization receiving the award.
“Today, we celebrate not simply an award, but the people and the partnerships that make people and population work meaningful, responsive, and truly people-centered.”
Garganian also acknowledged the continued support of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. and his administration for the Office of the Provincial Population Officer and recognized the importance of the province’s ongoing engagement with civil society organizations in advancing population and development work and meaningful citizen participation in local governance.
The award-recognized partnership reflects a POPDEV approach in which civil society organizations bring community experiences and realities into the development process.
During the ceremony, Garganian noted that civil society organizations contribute voices and experiences that help government and development partners look beyond population figures and understand the people behind them. She also recognized Mahintana Foundation as an important bridge between government and communities, creating spaces where citizens can participate as partners in shaping development.
South Cotabato’s recognition in the RMSKPA also builds on the province’s previous achievements in population and development. According to CPD XII, the province received First Place for Most Outstanding Barangay Population Volunteer in 2023 and Second Place in the Most Outstanding LGU Provincial Category for Population and Development Program Implementation in 2025.
These accomplishments point to a continuing effort to strengthen the province’s population and development agenda through partnerships that connect government programs with community needs.
At the center of that work are practical concerns that affect everyday life support for responsible parenthood and family planning, programs for adolescent health and development, community empowerment, and other initiatives designed to improve the well-being of people and families. The provincial population office specifically cited these areas as part of Mahintana Foundation’s contribution to the POPDEV agenda.
“The award also reflects the broader principle behind the RMSKPA: population and development are ultimately about people—their choices, aspirations, participation, and well-being,” the regional director said.
Garganian highlighted this people-centered perspective during the ceremony, emphasizing that every family reached, young person empowered, and community strengthened contributes to the kind of development envisioned by the award.
With Mahintana Foundation taking First Place in the regional POPDEV category, the recognition highlights a partnership that has strengthened the province’s efforts to make population and development programs more responsive, participatory, and grounded in community realities.
Mahintana Foundation is set to proceed to the National Awarding Ceremony in November 2026, according to CPD XII.
For South Cotabato, the recognition represents more than a regional distinction. It reflects the ongoing work of government and civil society partners to ensure that development initiatives are not only delivered to communities but also shaped by the realities and needs of the people they are intended to serve.
At the heart of the achievement is a partnership with a clear purpose: putting people at the center of population and development.
