100 millionth Pinoy babies now turn 5 – PopCom Bicol

100TH MILLION BABY. Jamaica Khelly Añonuevo, together with the Popcom and CHO personnel. Jamaica received sack of rice, school supplies, bag, toys, cake and vitamins. Photo by Casandra Balala

LEGAZPI CITY --- “The quality of life we give to the children depends on the family itself.”

Thus said Josephine Chua, Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Regional Director of the Commission on Population (PopCom) Bicol, after she visited the family of Jamaica Khelly Añonuevo.

Jamaica, who was among those born on July 27, 2014, made the Philippines reach its 100 million population.

PopCom Bicol, together with the City Health Office (CHO), here, continues to monitor the growth of Jamaica and the other kids who belong to the symbolic 100 millionth babies in Bicol by providing them food, vitamins, school supplies, and others necessities.

PopCom Bicol monitors seven children in the region who belong to the 100 millionth babies of the country.

Aside from the support for the basic needs of the child, PopCom Bicol and Legazpi City’s CHO also guided the parents in providing proper nutrition for the total well-being of their children.

100TH MILLION BABY, Jamaica Khelly Añonuevo, together with the Popcom and CHO personnel. Jamaica received sack of rice, school supplies, bag, toys, cake and vitamins. Photo by Casandra Balala

OIC Chua said that the children’s basic rights on social services such as health and education should be guaranteed for the children’s total development.

Likewise, POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III in his statement affirmed that the 100 Millionth Baby is an effort to push the fertility rate to the average two children per woman.

He also reiterated that it is a challenge to provide quality life for the babies and make every Filipino count in the progress and development of the country as the population increases rapidly every year. Family Planning

With its aim to lower the fertility rate in the region, PopCom Bicol intensified its campaign on Family Planning Program where Lenny and Edgar Añonuevo, parents of Jamaica, is one of its beneficiaries.

“Family planning is really helpful to us and to our family. The right age gap [4 to 5 years] between our two kids is essential so that we can sustain their needs, especially on financial matters,” Lenny said.

Lenny as a housewife and her husband as a farmer, have agreed to practice family planning and undergo seminars and orientations to ensure that their children will grow with proper care and nutrition.

OIC Chua explained that it is very important that both parents should decide to pursue family planning to prevent any tension and misunderstanding between the couple.

On the other hand, OIC Chua said that the capabilities of the families and the government to sustain the needs of children should be guaranteed even though the country is not yet considered overpopulated.

Family planning is one of the legacies of Philippines Health Agenda as supported by Executive Order No. 12 through the strict implementation of Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act.

In support to the realization of Ambisyon Natin 2040, PopCom Bicol through intensified family planning aims to build and nurture “Matatag, Maginhawa at Planadong Pamilyang Pilipino.”