LGU Butuan eyes intervention to reduce teen pregnancies Together with the Zuellig Family Foundation, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) responded to the call of the local government unit (LGU) of Butuan for the institutionalization and implementation of “The Challenge Initiative” (TCI) project to address the necessary plan of action to combat early and teenage pregnancy. LGU Butuan through its City Population Office, expresses the interest in the establishment of TCI Project in the city to reinforce its thrust and direction in creating a solution to the uprising cases of teenage pregnancy.
Caraga and contributed to the 80 percent of highest live births from mothers aged 10-17 years old in the province of Agusan del Norte. Dir. Tacardon also added that Agusan del Norte has the 3rd highest live births from mothers aged 10-17 in Caraga, with 456 counts spotting to 26 percent to all cases. The Challenge Initiative gives cities a bold strategy to scale highimpact family planning and reproductive health strategies for women and girls living in urban poverty quickly and sustainably.
TCI also helps cities scale up evidenceMeanwhile, POPCOM based family planning Deputy Executive strategies that have Director Lolito R. been proven to function Tacardon highlighted the in urban environments need to institutionalize in developing countries the TCI Project in Butuan by assisting local City as it is considered communities with the the regional center of design, implementation,
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| May 29-June 4, 2021
and monitoring of these solutions. Present during the conference were POPCOM Caraga Regional Director Alexander A. Makinano; ZFF-TCI Philippines chief of party Dr. Dorie Lyn O. Balanoba; City Councilors Cherry Mae Busa and Cynth Nietes and Butuan City Population Officer Dr. Josephince Chua and staff. Representatives from different partner agencies and civil society organizations also joined the said online activity. The Expression of Interest sent by the City Population of Butuan will be processed and subjected for the next phase if they will meet the needed requirements. (Matt Joe Ian F. Gonzaga, POPCOM Caraga/PIA Agusan del Norte) Caraga INFOCUS