A workshop to assess the implementation of the Local Population Management Program (LPMP) at the barangay level was held on February 7, 2017 at the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation, Inc. in Barangay Amanperez.

Valentine Garcia, Technical Assistant at the Office of the Mayor, welcomed everyone in behalf of Municipal Administrator Atty. Rodelynn Rajini Sagarino by stressing the importance of the activity. “We are doing this… because the population issue is a very important concern for all of us, especially in our town where poverty is a pressing problem. As we all know, the population problem is widely believed to be among the causes of poverty. That is the reason why the Reproductive Health Law has been passed: precisely to address poverty in the face of increasing population,” Garcia quoted Atty. Sagarino.

“Implementing the LPMP is thus urgent, and we are here to evaluate whether we have successfully implemented it at the barangay level. As BSPOs or Barangay Service Point Officers, you are in the best position to do the assessment as you are the ones who have been immersed in the work of implementing it at the barangay level,” she added.

In behalf of Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao, KKBFI Managing Director Levin Uy delivered the inspirational message. “Di maikakailang ang paksa natin ngayon ay kontrobersyal,” Uy quoted Mayor Quiambao’s written message. “Sa isyu ng population management, magkakaiba ang pananaw ng iba’t-ibang sector ng ating lipunan. Magkagayon man, di natin ito pwedeng balewalain o isantabi sapagkat lahat tayo ay direktang apektado nito.”

“Ngunit nandito tayo ngayon hindi upang magtalo, [kundi upang tulungan ang mga pamilya sa Bayambang na] masiguro na ang bawat sanggol na isisilang ay handang arugain at palakihin upang sila ay lumaki ng tama,” he continued.

Alta Grace Evangelista, Population Program Worker 2 of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, helped facilitate the workshop conducted by Sara Jane Altamirano, District Population Officer of the Provincial Population Office.

Attended by some 66 BSPOs from the different barangays, the LPMP workshop had three parts: a review of the task and functions of BSPOs, an assessment of the output of program activities, and an assessment of the program’s impact. An orientation on the LPMP tool called Community-Based Family Planning Monitoring Information System (CBFPMIS) was next conducted, followed by a review of the latest LGU monitoring data and the application of the CBFPMIS tool.

Action planning was conducted towards the end, followed by a discussion of what steps to take next. (Bayambang PIO/Media Affairs Office)