PopCom and DSWD-4A strengthen Pantawid families

Monday 23rd of July 2012

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, July 23 (PIA) --The Commission on Population’s (PopCom) Responsible Parenthood-Family Planning (RP-FP) campaign has been integrated with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

PopCom has teamed up with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 4A to promote responsible parenthood and family planning among 4Ps parent-beneficiaries.

Through family development sessions (FDS), PopCom’s RP-FP campaign was introduced to Pantawid Pamilya couples in four municipalities in Quezon last May.

The DSWD, through 4Ps, acknowledges the importance of a strengthened family in rearing children. Hence, FDS are conducted to educate parent-beneficiaries the value of family and teach them their roles and responsibilities to improve familial and marital relations. The FDS are monthly meetings of parent-beneficiaries where attendance to sessions is a set condition on health of the program.

The integration of the RP-FP module in the FDS of parent-beneficiaries was piloted in Set 1 Pantawid Pamilya areas, which are Buenavista, San Francisco, San Narciso, and San Andres all in the province of Quezon. Some of the key points discussed under this module include natural family planning, birth spacing, budgeting, and home management.

Meanwhile, PopCom has donated P500,000 to 4Ps for the integration of the RP-FP module in the FDS of parent-beneficiaries. This gave way to four different activities that concluded the conduct of the FDS on responsible parenthood and family planning.

Among the activities included are: general assembly and recognition day in Buenavista, family enrichment program (marriage encounter and church mass wedding) in San Andres, marriage enrichment seminar in San Narciso and marriage encounter and recognition of parent leaders in San Francisco.

Strengthened marital relationships and responsible parenting skills are expected among these parent-beneficiaries with these activities. They are also expected to be advocates of responsible parenthood and family planning to their communities. (Reg’l Information Office, DSWD4A/CPG, PIA4A)