Filipino People and Family Planning Essay

The alarming increase of population in the country has caused many individuals to seek help in Family Planning. Discussing family planning is not just giving out condoms, pills and more but also on caring for our reproductive health (RH). One organization that has been serving its clients especially women is the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, Inc. (FPOP). It is a private, non-stock, and non-profit voluntary organization that promotes quality of life through RH care service delivery, information, education and communication (IEC) activities; and policy advocacy initiatives. It is also the leading NGO RH champion and one of the oldest FP NGOs. It has the widest national network/coverage across the country. And the only RH NGO, with a strong binary structure, with volunteers coming from strategic sectors of society, backed up by professional staff. FPOP was founded by Dr. Jose Catindig (PPMP) and Dr. Gregorio Lim (FPAP) in August 4, 1969 through the merging of two separate and dynamic organizations: the Planned Parenthood Movement of the Philippines (PPMP) and the Family Planning Association of the Philippines (FPAP). Now it has 26 chapters and 8 community health care clinics (CHCC) to 40 provinces in the country. It is also an affiliate of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the world’s largest voluntary family planning organization. FPOP has a binary organizational structure. These are the national and chapter –based volunteers and professional staff. It has volunteers within the organization and program volunteers at the community level. These volunteers serve as FPOP’s link to the community as a contraceptive distributor, community educator, and community organizer. Thus, realizing its vision of empowering families and communities and also taking full responsibility of their health and quality life. What they do? RH is not only a concern of women but of people from all walks of life. Men and women have a different reproductive organ, thus RH is necessary to both. The concern on sexually Transmitted Diseases is also for men, women, and all those who are sexually active. Family planning as a way of life and Reproductive Health as an integral part of individual well-being and development are FPOP’s thrusts. With these, it promotes life through its RH Care Service Delivery, Reproductive Health Advocacy Project in Philippines (RHAPP) and Development and Family Life Education for the Youth (DAFLEY). | RH Care Service Delivery is designed for those who are in communities and lack enough information on RH. And with people who are sexually active in these communities, pills, contraceptives and other family planning methods are just bought over the counter. And thus causes some effects to those who were not properly educated how to use such. With this, FPOP’s conviction on educating people on this matter are realized thru the various activities for couples, adolescents, men, women etc. to help them in family planning and reproductive health. Thus counseling, information disseminations and community education programs are organized. Thru these activities, FPOP ensures its chapters and Community Health Care Clinics provide a comprehensive package of family planning or RH health services. These packages include legally and medically safe family planning methods, the maternal and child health care services. Other concerns that it provides to its clients are health and nutrition, gender sensitivity, prevention and management of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) like HIV/AIDs. Violence against women, children, men’s RH an involvement in Family Planning, Breasts and reproductive tract cancers and other gynecological conditions, RH for older persons and adolescent sexuality and RH. The Reproductive Health Advocacy in the Philippines Project (RHAPP), is FPOP’s advocacy for a positive policy environment for RH-related issues at the national and sub-national (local governments and regions) levels. It is also empowerment of Filipino women, men and the youth in with the Participatory Reproductive Health Advocay Workshops in baranggays, National and Regional Fora for Advocates among others. They also have national and local legislations for RH and Population. Another thrust of FPOP is educating the youth. In DAFLEY project, it addresses the dynamic needs and concerns of adolescents and youth. This services for young people include interactive counseling through media, telephone, internet, or face-to-face counseling. Others are done in training peer counselors, educators, symposia, forums, referral to clinics and professionals for medical related and RH concerns. Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, abbreviated as PRRM, is a non-governmental organization and institution formed in 1952 in order to assist the poor members of society in the Philippines. As a movement, it was initiated by upper and middle class group of individuals based on the experiences gained from the rural reconstruction and development done in China during the beginning of the 1900s. After World War II, among its tasks had been the establishment of cooperatives in rural communities. It was the inspiration of the founding of the Federation of Free Farmers in 1953, as well as the birthing of organizations similar to PRRM in other countries such as Thailand, Colombia, India, and GuatemalaIts main office is currently based in Quezon City. , which became possible through Dr. Yen’s establishment of another related organization during the 1960s, namely the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR). Vision And Mission PRRM envisions a world of equity and sustainability. The future is one where society is free of ignorance, poverty, disease, and powerlessness; and development takes place within the environment’s carrying capacity. ————————————————- To enhance the capacity of rural communities in the planning, advocacy and implementation of sustainable development, through an integrated program of education, livelihood, health, habitat, environment, and self-governance. ————————————————- ————————————————- Values ————————————————- The PRRM believes in several values. Firstly, PRRM believes in justice and equity, which means that the poor should be treated with a preferential bias since they would have already been faced with much inequality in the past. PRRM also wishes to promote gender inequality and this would be shown in the projects done by PRRM. ————————————————-. Secondly, the PRRM believes that one key ingredient for authentic development would nonetheless be unity and peace. It is especially essential for the Philippines as it is a vibrant nation with a diversity of culture and religious beliefs. The variances and differences should be overcome so that the Filipinos can achieve their goals as one united nation, and this will eventually lead to development for the country. ————————————————- The PRRM also believes that nationalism, a reflection of a common ideology, is the key to authentic development. The people of the Philippines need to truly believe in their capacity in achieving what they want. Indeed, special attention to utilizing and developing the indigenous efforts is essential in promoting self reliance. ————————————————- Furthermore, PRRM believes that all development must take into consideration the protection of the environment. This will ensure that the environment will not be heavily strained on and that the future generations can continue to benefit from the Mother Earth. ————————————————- With regards to culture, PRRM believes that the Filipino people have a vibrant and beautiful culture which they truly enjoy sharing with others. ————————————————- Last but not least, PRRM also believes that development is for the people and by the people. Genuine people’s participation at every stage of development is the essence of community empowerment. ————————————————- ————————————————- Goals. ————————————————- Among its present-day roles is the promotion of sustainable agriculture, technologies in the fishing business and farming, agroforestry, planning and implementation of managing resources in communities, the fight against ignorance through education, the fight against proverty through livelihood training, the fight against diseases through health education, improvement in access to justice, restoration of cohesion and connection among and between communities, creation of livelihood, environmental stewardship, awareness of public policies, and the dissemination of information to other Philippine and Asian non-governmental organizations. ————————————————- ————————————————- Future Goals ————————————————- A core objective of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement is to build up the Conrado Benitez Institute for Sustainability (CBIS), which functions as the educational, research and technical troubleshooting wing of the PRRM. By focusing on education for sustainability through providing educational courses which cover topics such as sustainable local economy, agriculture, coastal resource management, new and renewable energy, and gender issues, CBIS aims to inculcate sustainability into the future generation. ————————————————- In addition, the PRRM intends to advocate issues related to environment and sustainable development, economic development, social development and the rights of women, children and youth, and governance and citizen’s participation. ————————————————- Other long term goals also include the creation of an organization information database and the implementation of a â€Å"report card† system. The former acts as the basis for monitoring the ongoing projects and operations and the aim is to boost the efficiency of the different operations by at least 25% . While for the latter allows progress and accomplishments of ongoing projects to be recorded and reported. The PRRM aims to achieve workflow streamlining, publication exposure and quality, improved staff training and management accountability. ————————————————- ————————————————- Historical background ————————————————- In the 1900s, the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement was founded and inspired by its then leader Dr. Y. C. James â€Å"Jimmy† Yen (also known as Yan Yangchu), a national of China. It was brought the Philippines, specifically in Nueva Ecija and then also in Rizal province, by Filipinos such as Conrado Benitez, a person connected to the University of the Philippines, with the vision to empowering and developing rural communities and the aim of providing training on self-government and on how such communities can sustainitself globally, nationally, and locally. ————————————————- Apart from Conrado Benitez, original members of PRRM’s Board of Trustees also included Salvador Araneta, Cornelio Balmaceda, Cecilio Putong, Juan Salcedo, Jr. , Asuncion A. Perez, Gil Puyat, Paul R. Parrette, and Albino Z. Sycip. Apart from Benitez, Sycip, Putong and Salcedo, Jr. , PRRM’s original incorporators also included Esteban E. Abada,Eulogio Rodriguez, Jr. , Roland Renne, Juan Cojuangco, Oscar B. Arellano, and Jose S. Camus. [11] ————————————————- In 1970, former Philippine Secretary of Health and Senator Dr. Juan Flavier, conveyed his experiences while working with and for PRRM by writing his book entitled Doctor to the Barrios. ————————————————- In 2009, PRRM became a partner of the Ayala Foundation USA, with the task of building potable water facilities within chosen Philippine barangays.