Standing from L to R: Cecil Basawil, (Assistant Regional Director,POPCOM-CAR), Martin B. Manodon, (Sr. CDS, CDA-CAR), Christine Bulalin (CDS II /GAD Focal Point,CDA-CAR. Seated from L to R: Magdalena G. Abellera, (Regional Director, POPCOM-CAR) and Atty. Franco G. Bawang Jr. (CDA-CAR Regional Director).

On March 11, 2021, the CDA-CAR and POPCOM-CAR signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the purpose of sharing and aligning resources in the intensive advocacy and information on the importance of Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning (RPFP). Generally, the agreement is to broaden partnership, participation and collaboration with civil society organizations and private sector in improving availability and access to RPFP and adolescent health service and information

The role of the CDA is to designate a focal point person to make the agreement functional under the leadership and financial assistance from the POPCOM-CAR. In promoting the RPFP, CDA-CAR is to strongly encourage cooperatives and cooperative development councils for demand generation and referral of clients in need of RPFP service. Similarly, with the Gender and Development, the agreement maximizes the engagement and involvement of men and male-dominated institutions on RPFP and shared parenting and gender equality.

On the part of POPCOM-CAR, its lead role is to provide or augment resources to complement and support the partner agency in the integration of the NPPFP into the existing program and projects of the partner agency. Moreover, it spearheads the joint monitoring of activities to ensure efficient and effective delivery of strategies in the region.

The initial program of the agreement is the conduct of trainers training among CDA-CAR personnel including staff of cooperative union and federation on March 23, 2021 under the auspices of the POPCOM-CAR. The trainers training will equip the participants as partnership in the intensive advocacy for the cooperative industry. –Martin B. Manodon