Govt, church need not argue on responsible parenting--Popcom
Commission on Population Regional Director Vicente Molejona said that in the implementation of Responsible Parenting Movement, the government and the church need not continue with their age-old arguments on the issue of Family Planning.
"There are so many things which we can start working on together to help the poor and there are so many unproductive arguments we can set aside," Molejona said during his presentation of the Responsible parenting Movement (RPM) in the regular meeting of the Social Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC)
He said that the Arroyo Administration has been pushing for RPM as a directive to put the Philippine Population Program in place, cut government spending on contraceptives that do not reduce birth and promote Natural Family Planning.
Church-government collaboration on RPM had worked in some rural communities in the country while in some areas, like the Ipil Prelature in Zamboanga, the Church has embarked on relatively successful responsible family planning program.
Dir. Molejona also said that in his consultations with Catholic Church leaders in Iloilo, initial talks on future linkages point to the blending of purpose in creating development in the through RPM, which can be jointly implemented through the Church's Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) through the Archdiocesan Social Action Center.
On the other hand, Molejona said that initiatives are also being undertaken to revitalize the Family Planning with Responsible Parenting Movement through the Department of Education.
(PIA 6/ESS)