Aquino pushes for responsible parenthood

BY FELIPE CELINO

ROXAS City — President Benigno Aquino III gave the Department of Health and the Population Commission (PopCom) a fresh mandate to continue implementing Responsible Parenthood (RP) classes.

This is to provide information on all types of medically safe and legally acceptable methods of family planning, including birth spacing.

In a press release, Aquino said he wants the media to continue monitoring and reporting on RP classes to give him updates on the nationwide program implementation status.

Last week, the country celebrated the Population and Development Week.

The yearly celebration highlights Popcom’s mandate of responsible parenthood and birth spacing as key components to address the country’s population, poverty and development issues.

The 2010 National Population Congress held at the Tent City of Manila Hotel on Friday also served as venue to assemble various RP Movement (RPM) federations and local government units.

These sectors are the forefront in the implementation of the RP-NPF Program at the barangay, municipal, provincial and regional levels.

The event was also an opportunity for the parents to share RPM initiatives and emerging practices and learn from each other’s experiences.

Population and Development Week is being celebrated every November 23–29 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 76 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995./PN
   
RCPS trains BPAT agents

ROXAS City — A training for members of the Barangay Peace Keeping Actions Teams (BPATs) was recently conducted by the Roxas City Police Station (RCPS) to intensify its peacekeeping efforts here.

"About 60 participants from Barangays IV, Culasi, Inzo Arnadlo and Tanque attended the training,� said RCPS Public Information Officer PO2 Ramil Arcangeles.

These peacekeeping teams will assist authorities as force multipliers in implementing crime prevention programs by reporting potential peace and order problems to village or police officials, he said.

Each team is composed of a barangay chairman and seven tanods under the supervision of the local police's chief and Police-Community Relations Police Non-Commissioned Officer (PCR PNCO).

Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) Director Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol Jr. graced the activity as guest of honor and training lecturer.

Querol was formerly police director of Capiz, during which the Capiz Police Provincial Office was adjudged as the Best Provincial Office in the region per evaluation of the PRO-6 in 2006.

For his part, Mayor Angel Alan Celino said the city government will work out on the insurance of BPAT members.

Celino included peace and order along with health, opportunities and environmental protection as part of his development agenda under a catchphrase HOPE or Health, Opportunities, Peace and Environment.

The training was also graced by RCPS Chief, Supt. Khasmir Disomangcop; PRO-6 PCR 
Chief, Senior Supt. Ren Darocca; Capiz Police Director, Senior Supt. Renato Gumban; and Councilor Powell del Rosario, among others. (A. Lumaque/PIA/PN)