TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A pool of Barangay Population Volunteers (BPV) was organized by the City Population Office (CPO) to determine the number of couples in the city, the modern Family Planning Method (FPM) used and the reasons for not using.
Based on the consolidated report from the 47 BPV, 8,199 couples were profiled using the Form 1 (RPM Class/FDS Activity Report). Of this, only 331 are still hesitant to use any of the methods due to lack of awareness and fear of possible adverse effects to the body like irritation and weight loss.
According to John Leyaley, population program officer II, the couples who are reluctant to FPM are encouraged to use the methods applicable to them during the scheduled follow up and by giving them an orientation on its advantages and importance in the attainment of quality of life especially when couples are not capable of raising a large sized-family.
Leyaley added that their office is working closely with the City Health Office to meet the zero unmet needs of couples.
City Population Officer Ditas Tendero, in an interview, said that they are doing their best to correct the negative perceptions of couples regarding FPM use.
Tenedero also added that after the identification of volunteers last August 2016, a Phase I orientation was held on September 2016 to educate volunteers on responsible parenting and family planning and equip them with knowledge on the proper approach to encouraging couples in their respective barangays to be more responsible parents, at the same time aware of the importance of family planning as an effective way of achieving successful and better family living. The Phase 1 (Profiling) ran from September to November 2016.
To be more equipped with their functions and the proper filling out of Form 2 (Monitoring Sheet/ Follow up Form for Unmet Need on Family Planning), the volunteers went through Phase II orientation in December 2016 where they received lectures on the importance of family, family planning and responsible parenting, decision making for couples, and fertility awareness and the myths and facts of family planning.
To become BPV, one must be at least 18 years old, should have no other work to insure better performance and must be recommended by the barangay chairman.
The POPCOM Regional Office paid the volunteers P150.00 per sheet (10 couples per sheet) accomplished while the LGU gave T-shirt, token, umbrellas, free orientation-training as their counterpart.
Meanwhile, the volunteers continue to profile and monitor couples who are not yet served by the office meet target.
Apart from the pre-marriage counseling and profiling of couples, the POPCOM also holds teenage pregnancy counseling to youth.
By Darwin S. Serion
