CABARROGUIS, Quirino (February 8) -- The Responsible Parenting Movement, a program launched last year by the provincial government aimed at reducing the population of the province, has gained support from local officials and hundreds of couples provincewide.

Based on the initial report submitted by the Municipal Population Officers from the towns of Diffun, Saguday and Maddela, hundreds of couples have already attended the RPM classes.

In Maddela town, the municipal government headed by Mayor Florante Ruiz, has committed to shoulder the meals and snacks of the couples who will be participating the RPM classes.

Jovita S. Cabanag, Provincial Population Officer, explained that the RPM is a response to the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to the Local Government Units to carry out a program to promote responsible parenting and natural family planning.

She stressed that the President is concerned at reducing the population growth rate of the country from 2.3 to 1.9 by 2010.

Basing from the number of couples who are participating in the RPM classes and from their positive response to the program, Cabanag expressed optimism that this goal will be attained.

She also made an assurance that the RPM will be able to educate all the targeted couples thru the municipal and barangay teams who were given intensive trainings and orientation workshop regarding the concepts, issues, and concerns of responsible parenting.

Included in the trainings are discussions on responsible parenting, family relationship, home management, fertility awareness and natural family planning. The presidential directive that encourages every Filipino family to observe three years birth spacing breastfeeding and natural family planning is also discussed in every class.

Among the natural family planning methods are the billings ovulation, modified cervical mucus, sympto-thermal, standard days, and lactational amenorrhea.

The RPM municipal and barangay teams came from Municipal Health Office, Nutrition Office, Municipal Social Welfare Office, and Municipal Population offices, Faith-Based organizations and some Non-Governmental Offices.