POPCOM Official Lauds Formation of PopDev Press

POPCOM Official Lauds Formation of PopDev Press
By Arjay S. Felicilda and Joel Escol

DEPUTY Executive Director Mia Ventura of the Commission on Population (POPCOM) lauded the 10th Regional Population Office (RPO-X) for organizing the Population and Development Press Corps for Northern Mindanao (PopDev Press NorMin), the first ever in the country.

Ventura likewise praised the PopDev Press members for bonding themselves behind the responsible parenting and natural family planning (RP/NFP) program and other population and development efforts in the region.
“This is precisely another milestone in the promotion of natural family planning and other population and development programs in region 10, and being the first of its kind in the Philippines, your group could become the model in the entire POPCOM setup,” Ventura told her media audience.
She expressed confidence that the PopDev Press will greatly help in propelling the President’s desire for NFP to be really understood and adopted by every Filipino couple of reproductive age.

Meanwhile, POPCOM 10 director Psyche Paler said the idea of forming the PopDev Press is in response to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's mandate for the intensification of RP/NFP promotion, nationwide.

“We at the Regional Population Office in Region 10 find the PopDev Press as a very effective mechanism in bringing the message to our target audience,” Paler stated.

She cited the Roman Catholic Church in Cagayan de Oro City, headed by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, as one “big partner” in the massive RP/NFP information, education, communication and advocacy campaign in this part of the country.

During the two-day RP/NFP Orientation and Organizational Meeting at the POPCOM Training Center in Cagayan de Oro City, March 13,14 this year, the following were elected as charter officers of the PopDev Press : President Ardizon Arsua (RGMA Campus Radio), Executive Vice President Walter Balane (Central Mindanao Newswatch), Vice President for Cagayan de Oro Arjay S. Felicilda (Mindanao Forum, Kagayhaan.com Blog and Bisaya Network.com Blog, Vice President for Misamis Oriental Angelica Gorigao (Provincial Press Office), Vice President for Bukidnon Eric Cagay (MBC Love Radio), Secretary Anabelle Florendo (Bukidnon Daily News), Treasurer Delia Lapor (Catholic Radio DXDB), and Auditor Jovie Yuhoy (Radyo UMBN-Radyo Ukay).

Directors Joel Escol (Real Review Newspaper) Raul Moldez (Cagayan de Oro City Council Press), and Terry Betonio (Golden Chronicle). Members Dante Sudaria (Mindanao Gold Star Daily), Jun Felicilda (Real Review Newspaper) and Bing Jacinto (DXIF Bombo Radyo)

In his acceptance message, Arsua urged his colleagues in the PopDev Press to join him in facing the challenge ahead, as “without your support, everything is going to be impossible.” (asf&jce/jdelpf)