No less that the Provincial Governor Edgar Ramones Lara of Cagayan himself presided over series of one-day consultative Meetings on Population and RH Program of the province. Consulted were the B Chairpersons on Population and health, MHOs, MPOs, barangay heads and SK leaders
Various population and RH issues in the Province were clarified by the Governor himself. During the fora, the barangay heads and SK leaders pledged to pass an Ordinance creating their respective Barangay IEC/Advocacy Teams and Adolescent/Youth Taskforce on population and RH programmes. Technical assistance and monitoring of activities will be done by the Provincial Population Officer (PPO) through the Barangay Operations Center (BOC) of the provincial government.
The Conservation International Phils. has granted Luzon PROCESS (A Cagayan Based NGO) the project with $48,000 for implementation from January 2003 - June 2004. It is an integrated natural resource management and population/RH project.
The project aims to address upland in-migration, high fertility, ever expanding upland population and lack of basic services and access to reproductive health services in six project barangays.
The Saint Mary's University Research Department in Nueva Vizcaya presented its research findings to the RPEB members, selected Sangguniang Bayan members of the different municipalities in the Region, Provincial and Municipal Population Officers and representatives from the academe. After the presentation of the findings, the discussion focused on the different recommendations to address inadequacies of the support from the LGUs.
St. Mary's University, Nueva Vizcaya was commissioned by RPO 02 to conduct the study in CY 2002.
The University of St. Louis of Tuguegarao (USLT) conducted a seminar on Philippine Population Policy and the Church on February 22, 2003. The forum was attended by its Political Science students. Two resource persons from RPO 02 discussed the major policies as well as operational policies of the program while one from the Campus Ministry department of the University discussed the present stand of the Catholic church on the population policy and the program
The forum clarified; the students' perception on many issues related to the population policies of the government.
RPO 02 and DOH-CHD jointly conducted the Interfaith Orientation on Natural Family Planning on May 9, 2003 at Hotel Delfino, Tuguegarao City.
The activity was attended by representatives of different religious sectors and organizations. The highlight of the activity was the generation of commitments of the different groups in support to the advocacy for the Natural Family Planning (NFP). The orientation was one of the activities conducted in observance of the NFP monthJoint Regional Circular No.2003-01 signed by Regional Directors of DILG, NEDA, HUDCC, NSO and POPCOM was issued to encourage LGUs to undertake related activities in pursuance of Section 4 of the IRR of Section 37 of the UDHA Law.
The Circular aims to operationalize UDHA implementation at the local level and encourage LGUs to provide an amount from their general fund or the 20% development Fund for monitoring population movements, maintenance/strengthening of a POPDEV Committee, planning or setting up of mechanisms on expected population dysfunctions, conduct of capability building, advocacy, IEC and other related activities.
Region O2 observed World Population Day with the conduct of a Youth Camp on July 11-13, 2003 at Villa Caridad, Maddela, Quirino.
A total of 172 participants composed of 15-24 youth, Guidance Counselors and PAT members from the 3 UNFPA pilot provinces converged for the Youth Camp.
No less than the Governor of Quirino, Hon. Pedro L. Bacani, set the tone of the activity and welcomed the participants during its opening program. The Youth Camp served as an avenue for the youth to develop camaraderie, organize the youth leaders, raise awareness on ARH issues, and develop action plans to address the identified ARH issues.
Series of activities held during the Youth Camp included Getting to Know Activities, Life Skills and Spiritual Enhancement, POPQUIZ, Poster Making Contest, Extemporaneous Speech Contest, HATAW Exercise, Cultural Presentation and Search for the Mr. & Miss Youth Camp 2003.
The highlight of the activity is the expression of commitment by the youth themselves to help address ARH issues in their respective localities.