In partnership with DA

TACLOBAN CITY – The Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) partners with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in bringing Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP) to communities in the region under the Special Areas for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the agriculture office.
The SAAD Program is a comprehensive strategy that provides livelihood opportunities for farmers and fisherfolks in the top ten poorest provinces in the country, which include Samar island areas and Southern Leyte province in Region 8.
“Saad” is a Visayan word for promise and the program is anchored on two major components: social preparation, and food production and livelihood.
The partnership with DA comes under this strategy where farmers and fisherfolk beneficiaries of the program will become the target for RPFP classes by Popcom.
Identified areas for this joint undertaking are Lawaan, Balangiga, Hernani, Quinapondan in Eastern Samar and Sogod, Bontoc, Malitbog and St. Bernard, all in Southern Leyte.
The participants who will be identified from these areas will be provided with RPFP information which will make them become aware on responsible parenthood, as well as on family planning programs and services under the principle of informed choice and volunteerism (ICV) and this will be conducted during the RPFP class.
The RPFP Program aims to help couples/parents exercise responsible parenting to achieve their desired number, timing and spacing of their children, and to contribute in improving the maternal, neonatal and child health, and nutrition (MNCHN).
Andrew Rodolfo Orais, DA-8 assistant regional director for operation and extension, said the partnership is “very timely” as they are looking to fill in the gap on the social preparation component of the SAAD program.
For the initial allocation per province, the food production and livelihood component of SAAD provides interventions such as production support services; extension or training support and technology demonstration; and, provision of other agricultural equipment or facilities.
“The production and livelihood component is very well served while it is in the social preparation that we need partnerships such as this so as to provide a holistic approach to this program,” Orais said.
Meanwhile, as an initial step, Popcom has entered into a joint agreement with the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Health last February 15 aimed at addressing the needs of the country’s growing population and its impact on social and economic development through a co-managed and harmonized National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP).
Population growth rate has seen a decline in past years but the number of Filipinos is still increasing given its large population base and a fertility rate which has remained the highest in the ASEAN region, the 2018 State of the World Population Report revealed.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY-About 200 entrepreneurs from this city and nearby areas recently joined gathering aim of strengthening and providing more venue those in the MSMES or micro small, and medium-size enterprises.
The April 5 event, held at the Robinson’s Place, this city, was sponsored by Globe Telecom under its Globe myBusiness Academy.
The gathering was aim to make Globe myBusiness Academy as the partner of these local entrepreneurs by imparting to them new technologies which they can use for their business.
Globe Telecom is not just on telecommunication business but has also engaged in cutting edge technology in other business platforms like on vehicle tracker, CCTV, and canvass application, among others.
The activity was also participated by the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Retailers Association, Lazada, and Taxumo, among others.
Among those present during the gathering were Chinkee Tan, one of the country’s most known motivational speakers, and Anne David, supply chain marketing head of Globe Telecom who discussed on digital marketing which the MSMES could use. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar- Catarman Gender and Development (GAD) Chairperson Dr. Venus J. Cardenas urged women to use their voices and lead in bringing positive change in the province.
This she said during the League of Information Officer of Northern Samar (LIONS) second meeting at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Capitol Compound, this town recently.
“As a woman leader and a mother, it is my goal to inspire women to lead around the province to help shape the future of women and girls,” she said.
The gender and development advocate informed that she hopped from one municipality to another to help GAD focal persons develop gender responsive programs, seeking to meet people’s basic needs, promote their economic well- being, and enable them to pursue interests and participate in social and political processes at the local level.
“Statistics revealed that women constitute 60 percent of the voting population but in reality it is hard for women to get a fair and equal share of leadership position across all sectors” Cardenas said.
Thus, she encouraged women to take part in the electoral process and choose candidates who support and advocate the welfare of women and girls.
She also said for women to thrive in their respective career, one should be mindful of her physical self, eat healthfully, sleep well and remain active.
“Keep the gratitude and appreciation flowing and be thankful you have the energy and insight to be a positive self-mentor,” she said.
(NBQ/TBC/PIA-8, Northern Samar)

TACLOBAN CITY-The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) has announced that it will start the deployment on April 16, 2019, of the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) workers to the different departments of the city government.
Prior to their deployment, the first batch consisting of 85 SPES workers will attend a pre-deployment orientation at the Tacloban City Training Center on April 16.
Some 145 slots are available under the SPES of the city government of Tacloban under Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for this summer break.
PESO started accepting applications for the program last January to facilitate the processing time required by DOLE.
Aside from being assigned regular office work, SPES workers will also undergo several activities like livelihood orientation and other socio-civic activities as part of the holistic approach of the city government to the program.
The SPES workers will work for 20 days and will be paid a wage of P477.73 per day.
Sixty percent of the total wage of students is shouldered by the city government while the other 40% is paid by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The program is mandated under RA 7393 and intends to develop the potentials of poor but deserving students to finish their education by being employed during school breaks. (HENRY JAMES ROCA with a report from J.APOLINAR and D.ABARQUEZ/CIO)

TACLOBAN CITY- Leyte Rep. Henry Ong (2nd district) has expressed his optimism that the construction of a concrete bridge that will connect three villages in Barugo town will bring in development and faster delivery of goods and services.
The reelectionist solon was referring to the ongoing construction of a concrete bridge connecting the interior villages of Minuhang, Balud and Duka, all in Barugo town.
The bridge is constructed in the amount of P190 million and is expected to be completed within this year.
“Currently, transporting agricultural and marine products to the public market is very costly and inconvenient since the existing footbridge is only passable to single motorcycles. Students also skipped classes during high tide, when the bridge is submerged,” Ong said, citing the burdens being experienced by the residents of these villages.
Aside from providing convenience to the villagers, the bridge can also be used as an alternate route in the event the Tacloban-Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road will be rendered impassable.
“I am particularly proud of this project. The foot bridge has been there long before I became a congressman and its only now during my term that this was given attention for the bridge construction and concreting,” Ong said.
The completion of Minuhang Bridge this year will allow the passage of all types of vehicles on an alternative road that connects the towns of Barugo and Babatngon.
Ong said that economic growth is expected in the area, since transportation of commodities will be easier and cheaper.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)