The United Nations Population Fund has formalized partnership with initial five provinces in the Philippines for the 7th Country Programme which will be implemented from 2012 to 2016.
The five provinces – Ifugao, Mountain Province, Masbate, Eastern Samar and Sultan Kudarat – were also programme sites from the 6th Country Programme which ended in December 2011. They were the first provinces to sign letters of understanding with UNFPA for the new five-year programme.
Under the 7th Country Programme, UNFPA will provide catalytic support to in selected geographic areas which have been identified based on local development context, political commitment, as well as the availability of relevant and strategic opportunities to deliver integrated support to communities.
During the signing of the annual work plans of the provinces, UNFPA Country Representative Ugochi Daniels said the past engagement with the five provinces give special meaning to the renewed partnership.
“Such long-standing partnerships are already reasons for celebration but the fruits of those partnerships give a deeper meaning for the celebration,” Daniels said, taking note of the good practices that have been established in the provinces in the past programme cycle.
Mountain Province Governor Leonard Mayaen vowed to fast-track the implementation of the new programme and achieve its goals early on before new local officials take on the leadership of the province with the election next year.
Sultan Kudarat Governor Datu Suharto Mangudadatu committed the continued support of provincial and local leaders for the programme implementation. “The provincial health office, social welfare, and provincial population office will work together for the effective implementation of the programme,” he said. Sultan Kudarat has been a UNFPA partner since the 4th Country Programme.
Ifugao Governor Eugene Balitang, meanwhile, suggested a study tour between and among the programme sites primarily as a venue for sharing good practices in reproductive health programmes. “It would be interesting to see what is unique in other provinces so that we can learn from it and adopt or innovate it whenever applicable in our areas,” he said.
