RH issues highlight Antique popdev celebration
Issues surrounding the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill took center stage as hundreds of Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) gathered yesterday in the Province of Antique.
Dubbed "Population and Development Celebration '08," Antique Governor Sally Perez and Vice Governor Rhodora Cadiao led top government officials present.
Keynote speaker was Iloilo First District Board Member Richard Garin who represented his wife, First District Representative Janette Loreto-Garin. The lady solon is an RH advocate and among the movers of the RH Bill in Congress.
Board Member Garin in his speech stressed the importance of BSPOs vis a vis the BSPOs' role in bringing about progress through educating the people.
RH is about responsible parenthood, pro-choice and pro-quality life, he pointed out while thanking the BSPOs for continued public service to respective communities.
This year's theme was "Tamang agwat ng panganganak, pamilya ay aangat."
The celebration was held in capital town of San Jose with the province comprised of 18 municipalities. Total number of BSPOs present was placed at 612.
Population Commission Regional Director for Western Visayas Vicente Molejona was likewise present. Molejona reechoed the message of Garin as he expressed delight in the organization of the BSPOs in Antique. Populatioin Commission provincial office in Antique is headed by Primo Ogatis Jr.
Director Molejona used the occasion to turn over a P600,000 check out of the P1Million assistance of the national government for population related programs of Antique.
Antique in a 2007 survey has 515,265 in population or a growth rate of 1.19%, or " doubling-time" of population in 58 years. Poverty incidence here is placed at 41.6%, contraceptive effectiveness at 90.66% and contraceptive prevalence rate at 47.66%.