BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) highlighted the four pillars of family planning as the nation observes Family Planning Month this August.
CPD-Cordillera regional director Cecile Basawil identified the pillars as responsible parenthood, respect for life, birth spacing, and informed choice and volunteerism. Responsible parenthood means parents meet the needs of their family and children, Basawil explained.
“Nu manu ti kaya yo nga biagen ken nu manu ti kaya ti bagi ni mother nga iyanak. If we are part of the poorest of the poor, siyempre limited ti budget tayo, i-budget tayo nu manu laeng ti kaya tayo nga biagen,” Basawil said.
[How many children can parents properly raise, and how many children can the mother can bear healthily. If we are part of the poorest of the poor, the budget is limited so we have to plan the number of children that we can support and provide with the best.]
She added that meeting the needs does not only mean the daily needs but also the future of the children until they finish college and have a bright future. Contrary to some beliefs, Basawil said family planning respects life.
She explained that with the use of contraceptives, the sperm and egg will not meet, meaning that no life is formed during contraception.
“We want that every child we have ket dapat maited tayo nu anya ti kailangan da kaya nga dapat. It’s children by choice and not by chance.”
Basawil also noted the importance of birth spacing, or that children should have a three- to five-year interval from birth to give the mother the chance to recover and have focus on the baby.
She added that, through informed choice and volunteerism, parents are given options on what family planning method they will use. Couples may opt to use artificial methods like pills or injectables or the natural or fertility awareness-based method. Basawil emphasized that family planning and responsible parenthood entail the participation of both husband and wife.
“Ti family planning and responsible parenthood ket saan laeng a tongtongan ti babbai daytoy but rather, pati met laeng ti lallaki.”
[Family planning and responsible parenthood is not just the concern of women, but rather it also involves men.]
Family planning helps families to live fully and fruitfully, have opportunities to save for the future, spend valuable time with their children, and enable them to meet their needs.
The month of August is observed as Family Planning Month pursuant to DOH Department Memorandum No. 2020-0315 to raise awareness and promote the importance of family planning in the attainment of better quality of life. This year’s theme is “Panalo ang Pamilyang Planado! Tara, Usap Tayo sa Family Planning!” (DEG-PIA CAR)
