Papa loves babies

Commercials on television showing fathers hugging their kids are a joy to behold. Since time immemorial, it’s been mothers – who give birth at the risk of losing their own lives – shown taking care of their offspring, washing baby clothes for detergent commercials, preparing food, washing dishes and so on and so forth. Even in matters concerning family planning, the decision about when and how often to have children, has been that of mothers.

The good news is that local chief executives are pushing for sharing responsibilities in child care and developing of values in the young members of families. This initiative has come from the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM)’s program for male involvement known as KATROPA, or Kalalakihang Tapat sa Responsibilidad at Obligasyon sa Pamilya.

City and municipal chiefs are reported to be backing KATROPA, including Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez and San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier “Francis” Zamora. The first two have already vowed to back the movement through their video messages posted in the “Usap Tayo sa Family Planning” Facebook page (@UsapTayosaFP).

POPCOM’s media bureau reports that Mayor Sotto underscored the importance of revisiting the current mindset of the heads of families in protecting the persons under their care, especially their wives or partners, and more so in the area of family planning. Mayor Gomez vouched for the effectiveness of KATROPA as important “in realigning the psycho of Filipino men from ‘macho’ standpoint to a more conscientious and dynamic participant in the development of their respective families.” Both Mayors Sotto and Gomez have committed for male employees of their respective local government units to undergo KATROPA orientations.

POPCOM’s executive director, Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, MPH, acknowledged the mayors’ sincere support for the effectiveness of the KATROPA movement, noting that men are slowly realizing the importance of their position in molding the future and wellbeing of their families.

Perez said that governors, other mayors, civil leaders, broadcasters and prominent professionals have signified their willingness to back the crusade. To date, 88,575 Filipino males have enlisted for KATROPA.

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Here’s another piece of good news. More than 85,000 public school students in Makati City will receive a learner’s package and free daily five-hour internet load for school year 2020-2021. The project covers preschool to senior high school in the city’s public schools. Each learner’s package contains an On-The-Go (OTG) flash drive, printed modules and two washable face masks in a pouch.

The learner’s package and internet load would be given on top of the annual benefits received by the students, including free school uniforms, leather and rubber shoes, and school supplies.

Mayor Abigail Binay says the city government came up with the additional benefits in consultation with the City Schools Division Office (DepEd Makati), “as part of efforts to adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

She said further: “The city government has been actively involved in current efforts of the Department of Education to ensure that quality education continues to be accessible to the youth amid the crisis. We are committed to making the blended learning approach work to the advantage of our students, through equipping them with the right tools.”

Mayor Binay also appealed to parents to support the invitations of the city, underscoring their indispensable role in the effective implantation of new teaching methods designed to adapt to the “new normal.”

The city will also provide free internet load to public school teachers of Makati for the conduct of online activities and sessions. The OTG flash drive contains digitalized learning modules.

Through OTG, students can study even without internet connection. It has videos, illustrations, and interactive exercises developed by Dep-Ed Makati. It can be used on a smartphone (android or ios), table, laptop, desktop or a smart television.

Teachers will upload all the lessons for the week in the OTG, and parents will claim it from the teacher, together with the printed version.

On the other hand, says Mayor Binay, printed modules are self-directed instructional modules for all subjects or learning areas which students can answer.

These contain important concepts aimed at helping students increase their knowledge and enhance their skills If gadgets are unavailable, the student can simply make do with the printed modules. The student will answer all the exercises in the modules and submit them to their teachers through their parents.

According to DepEd Makati, Online Enrolment (OnE) of students for the incoming school year is ongoing, and parents may enrol their children until June 20, 2020. They shall fill out the application form in the SDO-Makati OnE app or scan the QR code that will direct them to the said PAP.

For assistance concerning OnE, parents can ago to the Facebook page of the school concerned. Contact numbers of focal persons of the school are listed in the page.

Parents may also resort to physical enrolment by filling out the Learning Enrolment and Survey Form (LESF) available in schools and barangay halls.