COTABATO CITY — Together with the Ministry of Health (MOH-BARMM), the Bangsamoro Population and Development (POPDEV) Office, a regional interim office under the umbrella of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), spearheaded on Monday, August 2, the official kick off ceremony of this year’s celebration of the National Family Planning Month.
Bearing the theme “Usap Tayo sa Family Planning ATBP”, this month-long celebration aims to create awareness on the importance and benefits of family planning in promoting the overall health and well-being of the population.
Recently, POPCOM XII, BPDA-BARMM, and MOH-BARMM have mutually agreed to undertake a collaborative agreement in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the BARMM’s population and development program.
As the region’s partner in population development, POPCOM XII shall guide the aforementioned BARMM agencies in leading the event. Also, this month-long celebration is the first event being led by the Bangsamoro POPDEV Office since its turnover to BPDA.
Engr. Mohajirin T. Ali, Regional POPDEV Program Director and Bangsamoro Director General of the BPDA, encouraged the provincial and municipal population officers and family planning program coordinators all over the region to maintain a close coordination with the Bangsamoro POPDEV Office and MOH-BARMM.
“I encourage you to have constant communication with the Bangsamoro Population and Development Office and closely coordinate with the Ministry of Health to sustain a strong partnership in our pursuit to serve the Bangsamoro people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the population officers and family planning program coordinators presented their proposed family planning activities as part of its commitment and support to Bangsamoro POPDEV Office.
By virtue of Executive Order No. 71 series of 2018, the Commission on Population was renamed as the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), and its attachment reverted from the Department of Health (DOH) to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for purposes of more efficient policy and program coordination. Subsequently, Bangsamoro POPDEV Office was turned over to BPDA. (BPDA-BARMM)