801 BSPOs from 36 towns in Leyte join parenthood, health summit

PALO, LEYTE, Philippines — A total of 801 barangay service point officers (BSPOs) and family planning officers from 36 out of 41 towns in Leyte attended the one-day Summit on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) for 2018 held in Palo town of Leyte last week.

Melchora Cawile, acting provincial officer of the Leyte Provincial Population Office, told The Freeman that this year's Summit carried the theme “BSPOs moving forward a sustained zero unmet need for modern family planning.”

Cawile said the participants were provided with training and information about the RPRH or Republic Act 10354 of 2012, “which guarantees universal access to methods on contraception, fertility control, sexual education, and maternal care.”

The main objective of the Summit was to create awareness among BSPOs and for them to have common understanding and interpretation of the RPRH Law, as well as Executive Order 12 of President Rodrigo Duterte, both of which could help strengthen the country's family planning program, she said.

The target is to achieve a “zero unmet need” for married couples in modern family planning by the end of this year, she added. (FREEMAN)