By Mike Crismundo BUTUAN CITY - The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) and its partner agencies on Wednesday laid-down the Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling (PMOC) Program during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. POPCOM 13 Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano
(POPCOM Caraga / MANILA BULLETIN) This PMOC was disclosed during the virtual conference of the Regional Population Executive Board (RPEB) hosted by POPCOM-Caraga, in the virtual media briefing with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). POPCOM 13 Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano highlighted the importance of assisting the Filipino couples to become more responsible in their decisions and choices especially in matters involving the health and safety of their family especially during the national health emergency. PMOC was designed by POPCOM with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as a crucial first step prior to getting married, according to Makinano. “The program has been implemented to guide the couples that the decision to get married must be well thought out, and must be made only after careful consideration, thorough understanding, and ample preparation,” he said. In the ordinary times, all marriage license applicants are required to attend a pre-marriage orientation to be conducted by a team of facilitators for at least four hours. For applicant couples, at least one member of which is 18-25 years old and must also attend the Pre-Marriage Counseling (PMC) to be conducted by an accredited pre-marriage counselor. Following the Joint Advisory 2020-01 issued by the said national government agencies, the existing protocols, as well as sessions content and methodologies, shall be provided to a maximum of four couples while strictly observing physical distancing of at least three feet or one meter apart. In the entire duration of the session, strict use of face mask or other protective equipment must be also followed. “With the help of the audio-video presentation (AVP), the facilitators should refrain physical interaction between and among the couples,” the region’s top POPCOM official said. Makinano said the PMOC Team of the city and municipal LGUs are required to conduct the PMO session at a minimum of two hours while the PMC session at a minimum of one and half hours, and with both sessions conducted within the same calendar day, while complying with all other public health standards, such as temperature check and other health examination, personal protection and hygiene, cleanliness of facilities, and safety use of equipment. The team is given an option to conduct non-interactive session where couples are participating outside of the PMOC session hall and in their respective homes, he said. “The standard 15 couples for the PMO and six couples for the PMC can be accommodated under this mode,” he said. As provided for under the interim guidelines, the PMOC Certificates are considered valid for a period of one year from its issuance. The POPCOM official said in the event that the issued marriage license to a would-be couple expires without being utilized due to the difficulty brought by the public health emergency prompting the couple to re-apply for the same, the previously issued PMOC certificates may still be used by the would-be couple without the need to attend the PMOC sessions. The assistance to the LGUs in the conduct of PMOC services are among the functions of the concerned NGAs in these trying times, Makinano added.