Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson signed a memorandum of agreement with Commission on Population and Development Region 6 director, Harold Alfred Marshall, to ensure universal access to Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Information and Localization of the Philippine Population and Development Program (PPDP).
The event was held at the Governor’s Office at the Capitol in Bacolod City Nov. 28, witnessed by Charissa Mercado-Lipa, Negros Occidental PopDev division head.
The agreement aims to enhance the capacities of local institutions, including population offices and coordinative bodies, to design, plan, implement, deliver, monitor, and evaluate effective strategies to improve demand and supply of information and services for RPFP and to reduce adolescent pregnancies in the locality, a Capitol press release said.
The agreement also aims to improve mechanisms for program monitoring and evaluation to support an evidence-based decision-making process.
Meanwhile, Lacson met with the six grantees of the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program, who passed the recent Physician Licensure Examination, Nov. 28.
The scholars, who are now licensed physicians, are Ferlyn Joy Tavera, Kate Anne Bermejo, Rizzo James Blancaflor, Joshua Rommel Jamero, Luden Espallardo, and Tanya Gail Treyes.
With them during the visit to Lacson’s office were Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, executive assistant to the Governor Marie June Castro, NOSP head Karen Dinsay, and Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital chief, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Medical and Nursing Scholarship is funded through the Provincial GAD budget, with an allocation of P7 million this 2023. ||
