THE Iloilo City Government won three top spots in the Regional Search for the 2019 Kaunlarang Pantao or the Rafael M. Salas Population Development Award.

The awards are Most Outstanding City Population Office (CPO); Most Outstanding City Population Officer, Mary Ann A. Ramos; and Most Outstanding Barangay Population Volunteer, Luzviminda Francisco, besting contenders in Western Visayas.

They will also be the official entries to the national validation.

Thee CPO has achieved 71.42 percent Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR), which is higher than the 65 percent national target set by the Department of Health (DOH) in collaboration with Commission on Population and Development for Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Program.

Consistent effective Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Advocacy on Adolescent Health and Development has positive impacts on the youth. This is attributed to decreasing trend of teenage pregnancy cases in city from 2015 to 2018.

Organized and dedicated Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) serve as vital front-liners in efficient implementation of Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP).

BSPOs are federated and registered with Securities and Exchange Commission and Bureau of Internal Revenue. This is for them to engage in relative income-generating projects, particularly Contraceptive Self-Reliance (CSR) Project since 2013. It aims to augment contraceptive supply level maintained by CPO.

The CPO also maintains an accurate, streamlined and updated population databank, to include community-based Migration Tracking Records.

"The City Population Office made it with flying colors. We always endeavor to have effective implementation through initiatives and innovative strategies in order to achieve fruitful outcomes. There is synergy and functional mechanism with stakeholders in planning, monitoring and assessment of programs," Ramos said.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas and City Council members have been instrumental in the success and effectiveness of CPO on account of budget and policy support through Executive Orders, resolutions and ordinances to ensure program sustainability.

The search for Outstanding Population Officers, Workers and Structures aims to publicly recognize their significant contributions in PPMP promotion and implementation.

The awarding is set during the Regional Population Congress at Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo district on October 17. (PR)