Popcom Educates 841,000 Couples In Central Visayas

The Commission on Population (Popcom), which is celebrating its 47th year this year, has educated 843,381 couples in Central Visayas, surpassing the target of 800,000 through Responsible Parenthood-Family Planning classes last year.

Popcom 7 Director Bruce N. Ragas said Popcom has committed itself to the empowerment of Filipino families through responsible parenting, quality health, education and population and development integration.

Ragas said the agency’s Responsible Parenthood-Family Planning classes has a turnout of 105.42.

Out of the couples reached, those of reproductive age increased in turnout from 751,993 in 2014 to 842,599 in 2015.

Ragas, a lawyer, said an innovative family planning logistics hotline team was also established at the Popcom Central Office where Family Planning (FP) inventory and consumption reports were monitored and stocks from the Department of Health (DOH) were checked regularlyif they’ve reached the intended Rural Health Units (RHUs).

The hotline has contacted 783 out of the total 1,643 RHUs in the country, which resulted in better allocation and distribution of FP stocks as some units reported to have insufficient stocks while some have more than enough.

Ragas said local government units have also been good partners of Popcom.

Ragas said Popcom has been conducting the Rafael M. Salas Award to recognize exemplary cities and municipalities that have excelled in Population and Development PopDev.

The Rafael M. Salas Award was named in honor of the man who was known to many as “Mr. Population” as he had contributed greatly in the establishment of population programs, projects and activities in the country.

Ragas said Popcom has also developed and disseminated Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials such as posters, comics and brochures for 4Ps (Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries, schools, RHUs and hospitals.

Ragas said Popcom’s international partnerships have also been sustained through the South-South Cooperation (SSC) Initiative for Good Practices in Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Gender Mainstreaming, with meetings regularly conducted in the Philippines and in Indonesia. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS