By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – The babies who represented the impact of the increasing population size of the country will turn five years old this Saturday, July 27.
The regional office of the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) said it continues to monitor the growth and development of the so called 100Mth babies in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region as its indicator in the implementation of the country’s population policy and thrusts addressing the ballooning population size.
POPCOM highlighted this year’s celebration with the theme “Sa Ika-limang taon ni baby, Pagtutulungan tungo sa Maunlad at Malusog na Kinabukasan”.
The birth of the symbolic 100mth babies which was witnessed by POPCOM, together with the Department of Health, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation reminded us that the country’s population already hit 100 million last July 27, 2014 at exactly 12:06 a.m.
The symbolic babies, namely: Lyca Jane Geroy, Zhyraiah Orillaneda Tranquilan, Bella Christina Matugas Lincuna, Queen Genyvic Malate Juanillo, July Marie Aquino Dahug, James Mark Diano Montalban, and Arhea Jabonillo Damasco are being closely monitored by the Local Population Office as to their health status and development, POPCOM 13 Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano told The Manila Bulletin on Thursday.
Only Arhea Jabonillo Damasco and her family migrated to Region 10 or Northern Mindanao region, he said.
On Saturday, the Department of Health, through the Regional Nutrition Council, will present the health and nutritional status of the symbolic babies based on the result of the status monitoring report by their parents.
In recognition of the important role of the symbolic babies in the region, POPCOM will give birthday gift packs to them during their 5th birthday, Director Makinano said.
A brief orientation on Responsible Parenting and Family Planning to the parents of the symbolic babies will take place during the event. Parents need to be reminded that with proper planning, timing, and spacing of the next birth, the child will be provided with the basic needs which are empirical to her/his growth and development, Director Makinano added.