TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) – Region II is optimistic in empowering more Filipino adolescents, families and communities even at the most outskirt of localities in Region 2 after local media partners from various media entities regionwide pledged to strengthen the advocacy strategies of POPCOM on the Philippine Population and Development Program (PPDP).
This is one of the major commitments of the 25 participants representing the radio, television, print and multimedia entities during the Orientation on the PPDP for Local Media Practitioners last May 20, 2022 at Taj Hotel, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
In her opening message, RD Macarubbo emphasized the powerful role of media in educating the general public and shaping their minds on various government programs and activities. She further stressed the need to focus advocacy interventions in addressing population-related issues like high teenage pregnancy, high fertility and early marriages, among others.
“As peddlers of essential information, we hope that we may be able to provide information even to the remotest areas in the region and encourage more people to avail of our services that can uplift and create an impact in their lives,” RD Macarubbo said.
Salient information about the three program components of the PPDP was also shared emphasizing the desired outputs and outcomes necessary to the attainment of the overall goal of the PPDP.
Meanwhile, Director Angely L. Mercado of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – Regional Office 2, who personally attended the activity, guaranteed support in promoting the Commission’s programs and activities and further pledged to produce a video documentary highlighting the consequences of teenage pregnancy. Success stories of teenage parents will also be part of the documentary.
Other private media entities like Brigada News Cauayan and Bombo Radyo Tuguegarao also incorporated in their action plans the airing of press releases during their news and public affairs programs andconductingt live or recorded phone-patch interviews with RD Macarubbo.
Ms. Theresa C. Soriano, Assistant Regional Director of POPCOM-Region II also acknowledged the support of some local radio stations in Tuguegarao City for accommodating the airing of plugs and other advocacy programs of the Commission.
In 2020 and this year, POPCOM partnered with DWPE Radyo Pilipinas – Tuguegarao thru a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), for the airing of Family Planning on-Air which aims to increase the knowledge and awareness of couples and individuals on essential responsible parenthood messages and educate them on various FP methods. The program was also aired at DZGR-Bombo Radyo Tuguegarao in 2021. The plugs which highlighted adolescent health and development (AHD) messages and featured POPCOM-trained peer educators were also aired at DWWQ Barangay 89.3 FM.
POPCOM-Region II is eyeing expansion of the radio program and other possible local media ventures with other prominent and supportive media outlets in the region by 2023.#(PopCom)
