Popcom educates 4Ps couples on responsible parenthood

THE Commission on Population in Central Visayas (Popcom-7) is directing their focus and attention on promoting responsible parenthood with the new members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Leo Fernandez, information officer of Popcom-7, said they conducted classes in the barangays to educate couples on responsible parenthood.

The couples underwent a one-hour class at least once a month.

The classes covered 30-minute discussion on responsible parenthood and another 30 minutes on the methods of family planning.

Couples were also asked to fill up a profile form to determine their needs.

“This (profile form) would help them to have an informed choice,” Fernandez said.

He said the couples were also advised to visit their health center to avail of either the natural or artificial methods of family planning.

Natural method include standard days method (formerly calendar method), body basal temperature and mucus method.

The artificial methods include vasectomy and ligation. Contraceptives are also available for the couples.

Fernandez said the responsibility to give out contraceptives was given to the local government units.

“Basin naa na (Maybe there’s already (a budget)) with the implementation of the RH (Reproductive Health) Bill,” he added.

Meanwhile, two babies in Cebu who were declared as among the four “Symbolic 100 Millionth Babies” in Central Visayas were treated to a birthday celebration by the agency.

The celebration, which was in collaboration with the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7), National Nutrition Council in Central Visayas (NNC-7) and Philhealth, was a simultaneous event in all regional offices in the country today.

Kyle Olendang of Pinamungajan town, southwest Cebu and Paul Jane Gregory Entis of Sogod town, northern Cebu received gifts to celebrate their second birthday.

Fernandez said aside from a birthday cake, the two babies and their parents received P3,000 worth of gift certificates, which they could use to buy baby clothes and other supplies and milk.

The other two babies- Julie Ann Mae Astronomo in Calape, Bohol and Jovan Maurice Lagudas of Maria, Siquijor will receive their gifts separately on July 28 and August 1.

According to Popcom, the search for the symbolic 100 Millionth Pinoys was based on projection from the 2010 National Census by the Philippine Statistics Authority when the country reached its 100-million population projection last July 27, 2014.

Fernandez said all symbolic babies were born on July 27, 2014 between 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.

This was certified by their attending doctors and they were born through spontaneous delivery in government-run facilities, which served as the criteria for their selection.