GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The city government will tap community pantries set up in various public places here to promote its expanded population management program.
Judith Janiola, head of the City Population and Management Office, said Thursday, May 6, two organizers of several community pantries already agreed to provide spaces to display condoms, pills, and other related items, noting that they can also be considered as “necessary goods.”
“We’ve had initial discussions with other pantry organizers and they are also open to it,” she told reporters.
Janiola said the initiative is mainly aimed to promote family planning as well as address pressing problems such as teenage and unwanted pregnancy and the increasing cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).
Aside from the community pantries, she said they are currently distributing contraceptives through the rural health units in line with the modern family planning program of the Commission on Population.
Cris Lopera, executive director of advocacy group Shine-Soccsksargen, said in a radio interview the initiative will be a huge boost to their efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
By tapping the pantries, he said residents will have a choice to get the contraceptives and get proper protection.