The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region and Population Commission (PopCom) – Region 1 led by Regional Directors Paula Paz M. Sydiongco and Erma R. Yapit signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to strengthen family planning (FP) services in Ilocos Region during the Family Planning Awarding Ceremony held in the town of San Juan, La Union on December 2, 2022.
Under the MOA, both agencies will aim to improve the policy and program environment at the local level to ensure universal access to responsible parenthood and family planning information services, especially among the marginalized sectors.
“We will be providing demand generation activities gaya ng pagbibigay ng mas comprehensibo at epektibong strategies para sa improve responsible parenthood at family planning (RPFP) services gaya ng counselling at increase access to and use of contraception sa mga nangangailan,” Director Sydiongco stated.
“Family planning is essential for preventing unintended pregnancies and also for improving maternal and child health and well-being. Couples will have the opportunity to provide the right nutrition, health, and education for their children without any burden.”
In the implementation of the family planning program in the region, the regional office continues its capacity building programs for health care workers from various municipalities through family planning competency-based training for FP counselors in the region.
Family planning commodities are also regularly provided to all rural health units and different health facilities including monitoring and evaluation of FP service in health facilities.
Regional Director Erma R. Yapit assured that PopCom will extend its full support and available resources including technical assistance to the DOH regional office in the delivery of its role and responsibility to complement the RPFP services of the health department.
“Now that our population is increasing, family planning is very important, nasa pandemya pa rin tayo at kailangang matugunan natin ang patuloy na paglobo ng ating papulasyon. We have to strengthen the whole of government and whole of society approach and provide more human development programs para magkaroon ng community development at productivity sa ating mamamayan which will eventually lead to healthy and sustained families,” she emphasized. (Anthony Quindoy)
