SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in the Ilocos Region conducted an outreach program for the Special Population Groups (SPGs) at Barangay Rissing in Bangar, La Union for the observance of Population and Development (POPDEV) Week.
The activity was aimed at recognizing and giving full support to the improvement of the total well-being of the SPGs, considering that they are an integral part of society.
Forty senior citizens and 40 persons with disabilities (PWDs) were given hygiene kits and medicines from the Department of Health-Ilocos Center for Health Development.
CPD-Region 1 Director Erma Yapit thanked all the attendees and the local government unit for allowing the office to conduct the activity.
She also emphasized that all sectors of the population, especially the SPGs, must be included in development.
“Dakayo nga senior citizens ken PWDs ket kaparis met iti dadduma nga sektor ti populasyon ket dapat iti panag dur-as ket haan kayo mabati. Dapat awan iti mabati para agkukuyog tayo, sama-sama tayo iti panag dur-as (Kayong mga senior citizens at PWDs ay kapareho ng mga iba pang sektor ng populasyon at dapat sa pag-unlad ay hindi kayo mapag-iwanan),” she added.
Melvin Mingaracal, punong barangay of Rissing village, was very thankful that her barangay was chosen to be the recipient of this year’s outreach activity.
On behalf of Municipal Mayor Joy Pinzon Merin, representatives from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and Municipal Health Office attended the activity.
The POPDEV Week is observed yearly on November 23-29 under the Executive Order No. 76 to foster a greater grasp of the fundamental connection between population and development-related issues.
For this year’s celebration, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) strengthens its advocacy efforts and encourages the emergence of policies and initiatives addressing issues that include all stakeholders.
This year’s theme, “CPD: Katuwang ng Lokal na Pamahalaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Pamilya at Pamayanan,” underscores the importance of engaging families and local communities in the process of decision-making to ensure that policies and initiatives are contextually relevant and responsive to population needs.
It also recognizes the family as a fundamental unit and the importance of supporting resilient and healthy families for overall community progress. (JCR/AMB/PIA Region 1)
