Albay unveils fortified reproductive health programs on World Population Day

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) – The provincial government of Albay on Wednesday celebrated the World Population Day with the launching of the expanded Provincial Implementation Team for Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (PIT-RPRH) at the Albay Astrodome here.

Hundreds of Barangay Integrated Health Workers (BIHWs) and Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) from across the province were sworn in as designated Focal Persons of the Albay Frontline in Barangay (ALB-RPRH).

These frontline workers will lead the Advocacy, Demand Generation and Skills Enhancement Program of the RPRH in their respective barangays.

Growing population The Commission on Population (PopCom) said, it expects that the number of Filipinos will hit 105.75 million at the end of the year.

Since the country’s population reached 100 million two years ago, it continues to grow at an estimated two million people a year despite a declining growth rate.

It is still the poorer sector which makes up most of the population. Birth rate, teen pregnancies and sex education It was noted that women from poor communities were giving birth to an average of five children compared to an average of two children for women from higher income brackets.

Teenage pregnancy also remained an urgent concern.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority for 2016 showed that one in 10 women of childbearing age was a teenager.

Twenty-four babies are reportedly being born every hour.

One in 10 Filipino women aged 15 to 19 is already a mother or pregnant with her first child, the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey said.

This urgent concern maybe dealt with by coming together for age-appropriate sex education.

Access to RH services

Last January, President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 12 which intensified access to family planning and reproductive health services.

For its part, the provincial government of Albay, thru Executive Order No. 20, series of 2017 signed by Gov. Al Francis Bichara, expanded its implementation province-wide.