PopCom, USAID partner on family planning drive

FILE: Para sa mga lalake dyan, natamaan ba kayo? Kung hindi pa kayo ready to have a child for now, always make sure na protektado kayong dalawa ng partner mo. (Photo: It’s OK To Delay/Facebook)

MANILA – The Commission of Population and Development (PopCom) and the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid) on Thursday encouraged Filipinos to set their goals on educational and economic projects before raising their own family.

In a message to Philippine News Agency, PopCom said through a social media campaign “It’s OK to Delay!,” Filipinos especially the youth can have a variety of goals such as finishing school, getting a promotion at work, or owning a house that they can achieve before looking to have a child.

“For this, we designed a friendly approach to educate young people that they have family planning options, and that it is their right to be aware of the current methods being practiced,” Popcom chief Juan Antonio Perez III said.

A quick scroll in the “It’s OK to Delay” Facebook page showcases the different scenarios in a traditional Filipino family setting where young Filipinos are coerced to start a family and have a child.

In one of the episodes, an older member of the family told a young couple that it is practical to have more children so they can maximize their SSS benefits and that the more child you have, the merrier you will be.

“Sa dami ng bayarin at mga hanash ngayon, mas maganda na maliit ang pamilya. Kontrolado nyo ang buhay nyo (There are a lot of bills to pay these days, it is better to create a smaller family so you have more control of your life),” another family member said in the episode.

Perez said they made the campaign more fun and comprehensive for their target audience, who are usually receptive to ‘lighter’ contents.

The campaign also introduces the various contraception methods available in the market as well as its particular uses.

While there is still no data on the pregnancy rate in 2020, PopCom said it believes the figure has increased due to the length of the community quarantine.

However, PopCom said it is banking on the various promotions initiated during this period to disseminate the necessary information.

In a statement, USAID chief Michelle Lang-Alli said the campaign introduces family planning methods that will give its viewers and readers peace of mind while they are pursuing personal goals until they are ready to have a newborn.

“Young adults 18 to 30 years old are not traditionally reached by family planning demand-generation activities,” she said.