NO LONGER BABIES. The six children in the Eastern Visayas region belonging to the country's 100-millionth babies celebrate their 9th birthday on July 27, 2023 in Tacloban City. The celebration highlights the need to give everyone a better quality of life. (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) in Eastern Visayas on Thursday marked the ninth birthday of the region’s six 100-millionth symbolic babies, highlighting children’s need for proper care.
PopCom Eastern Visayas director Elnora Pulma said they continuously monitor the status of these children as a reiteration of their advocacy through the years that every child should be born wanted and their basic rights on social services, such as health and education, are ensured for their total development.
“This poses a challenge to all of us to give a quality of life to all children. All of us have the right to live a quality of life. We have to ensure that all Filipinos actually benefit from services that are inclusive to everyone,” Pulma told reporters during the celebration at Ritz Tower de Leyte here.
The region’s six symbolic babies are Rian Go of Tacloban City, Miller Josh Tondo of Tanauan in Leyte, Blair Catalea Balabis of San Juan in Southern Leyte, Sunrey Abenales of Catarman in Northern Samar, Jody Cervantes of Borongan City in Eastern Samar, and Joven Rey Arsenio of Catbalogan City in Samar.
The birth of these symbolic babies on July 27, 2014, according to Pulma was considered a demographic event, an institutional reality check the country was then registering a 100-million population record.
They received gift packs from their respective local governments and government agencies that are members of the regional population executive board.
This year’s birthday of the 100-millionth babies, carries the theme "Bigyang Halaga Ang Bawat Pinoy sa Pag-unlad, Ngayon at Bukas. Sa Ika siyam na taon, patuloy na pagpapaunlad sa kanilang pagkalahatan kagalingan at ng buong pamilya".
Pulma said the birth of these babies nine years ago called for paying proactive attention to the importance of maternal and neonatal health as well as promoting responsible parenthood and family planning among Filipino families.
Their birth was also seen as a challenge to the Philippines as its socio-economic and political situation struggles to give the citizenry a better quality of life, she added. (PNA)
