By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The provincial government of Iloilo is considering the construction of a standalone facility for Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) in each town to enhance the delivery of family planning services and outreach in the communities.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. revealed this during the BSPO Congress at the Iloilo Sports Complex Covered Gym on Friday.
“Nagligad we provide technical help, we provide equipment sa mga family development centers but starting next year mapatindog na gid kita building,” he said.
According to acting Provincial Population Office chief Ruel Von Superio, the Committee on Appropriations of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has already approved a P25 million budget for the construction of the buildings.
The proposed P5 million worth 2-storey building will be a multipurpose center, serving BSPOs, population program officers, and the local youth development council.
The construction will initially start in 5 towns. These towns are yet to be identified.
Defensor cited the efforts of the BSPOs in helping the province deliver its programs and services during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kamo ang atun nga frontliners sa nagaenkwentro kita sa COVID-19. Inyo to sakripisyo, inyo to pinangabudlayan. Kung wala ang barangay functionaries natun kaupod ang BSPOs sang COVID-19, natam-an gid kita,” he said.
He further emphasized that the BSPOs have been at the forefront in increasing the people’s awareness of the government’s current inoculation program.
“We will move forward and improve with your work. That is why we have a population data bank, and we will add more to it because our development work is based on our population data bank,” Defensor added.
Lisa Grace Bersales, Commission on Population and Development (CPD) executive director, underscored the importance of data provided by BSPOs in assessing demographic situations and ensuring the impact of services on the community.
“Kinahanglan gid natun sang data para mabal-an kung ano ang gakatabo, kung akon aton services may impact sa community […] Makita natun sa data ang bulig sang BSPO sa province sa pag-promote sang family planning nga may ara sang good result,” she said.
In providing family planning services, BSPOs are tasked to resupply pills and condoms, refer clients for services like IUD and sterilization, maintain records, and manage stock of family planning materials.
Bersales commended the effective fulfillment of BSPOs’ roles in providing community-based family planning services citing the the slower pace of population growth in the province.
Superio, on the other hand, emphasized the assistance of the BSPOs in the province’s campaign of mobilizing communities for zero open defecation.
“Without you, being our extension arms, it would truly be more challenging for us, your population officers, to reach into our communities and impact our people’s lives,” he added.
The ZOD movement brought the province its first Galing Pook Award. The award was conferred earlier this October.
“Amo ina ka importante ang inyo gina-obra sa pag tipon sang datus agud basehan sang mga programa, proyekto kag polisiya sang aton gobyerno,” Superio added.
The congress was attended by around 2,000 BSPOs from the 42 towns and one component city of the province.
Towns with the best-managed data banks and population statistical data boards were recognized during the congress. Service awards were also given to BSPOs with 20 to 40 years of service.
The congress is in line with the CPD celebration of Population and Development Week.
