Commission on Population and Development Region I

The Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling Regional Technical Working Group (PMOC RTWG) of Region I, composed of partner agencies from the PSA, DOH, DILG, DSWD, and CPD, convened for its First Quarter Meeting on May 26, 2026, at the CPD Region I Conference Room.

During the meeting, members reviewed local government compliance with recent DILG policies and checked the accreditation status of local counseling teams. To further support local implementers, the body reviewed and approved a vital resolution requesting the DSWD Academy to conduct onsite provincial trainings and facilitate counselor accreditations. The meeting wrapped up with the team sharing ideas to update PMOC Module 1, ensuring that would-be couples continue to receive the best possible guidance.

The Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), led by Medical Center Chief Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, spearheaded the Sexually Healthy and Personally Empowered Adolescents (SHAPE-A) Training on May 19-22, 2026 at Sikatel Hotel, City of Batac, Ilocos Norte.

The three-day event gathered youth leaders from the five pilot sites of the Key Assistance for Developing Adolescents (KADA) program: Bangui, Batac City, Currimao, Dingras, and San Nicolas. The initiative aimed to equip young leaders with the knowledge to make informed reproductive health choices and act as peer advocates. By strengthening youth leadership, the program actively addressed critical adolescent issues, including adolescent pregnancies, HIV awareness, substance use, and mental health.

This collaborative project was facilitated by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) Regional Office I, alongside the Ilocos Norte Population Gender and Development Office led by Ms. Janet Lucia London, PPO IV/GAD Focal Person, and MMMHMC.

Moving forward with efforts to protect young parents from the vulnerabilities of early pregnancy, the Provincial Population and Development Office, under the leadership of Provincial Population Officer Mr. Francis Gerard T. Dacanay, organized a two-day Program Design Workshop for the Social Protection Program for Adolescent Mothers and their Children (SPPAMC) on May 21–22, 2026.

Held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall in Vigan City, the workshop united LGU representatives from Vigan City and Sto. Domingo who shall be implementing the SPPAMC this year. The collaborative effort focused on uncovering the root causes of adolescent pregnancy, addressing current program gaps, and crafting innovative initiatives for their respective SPPAMC Action Plans.



Provincial Population Office- Ilocos Sur