Angeles City bags 2015 regional award on population, youth management

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=810372
• Thursday, October 1, 2015

(PNA), FPV/ZST/RKM/PS

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Oct. 1 (PNA) -- The Population Commission (POPCOM) Region III has awarded this city for its active population and development programs for the youth.

The POPCOM cited the city’s creation of the Teen Information Center for Adolescent Health and Youth Development which seeks to reduce incidence of teen pregnancy and the spread of HIV among Angeles’ youth by conducting school and barangay-based peer counseling and leadership trainings since 2005.

POPCOM Regional Director Eleanor M. Cura said that out of 13 cities, Angeles City pioneers the whole region in building a Teen Information Center, thus, it deserves the award.

City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan received the Rafael M. Salas Award and token amounting to Php 50,000 which will be used for the center.

“We will never stop on investing on our youth as they are our future. As we progress in continuously beautifying our city, we will not neglect on working innovatively to enrich our people’s lives as well.” Pamintuan said.

The Rafael M. Salas for Population and Development Award is an annual award which aims to recognize local government units, individuals and institutions for their outstanding achievements and contributions in population management programs.

Meanwhile, National Youth Commissioner for Luzon Percival Cendaña, stressed that greater education and proper access to correct information is necessary to prevent the records of teen pregnancy and HIV from increasing.

The country ranks first in Southeast Asia on teen pregnancy according to United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) and second in Asia in HIV infection, a study from UNAIDS Global report 2013.