Geared on building a strong nation through strong families, Iloilo continues to establish spaces for counseling sessions and parenting programs.

The Provincial Population Office (PPO), headed by its chief Ramon Yee, has already established seven Multi-Purpose Counseling and Family Development Centers in different municipalities in the province.

Yee underscored the importance of pre-marriage sessions to couples who wanted to tie the knot.

“Pre-marriage sessions give couples the information and the instructions on responsible parenthood and family planning. Couples who undergone the sessions will build a strong family, strong community, and eventually a strong nation,” Yee said recently.

Present in these centers are television sets and education-information materials needed in the counseling.

During the counseling, he said the couple separately accomplish “marriage expectation inventory,” which will then be compared.

“If their goals vary, they will be enlightened by the counselor,” Yee said.

Last week, the Iloilo provincial government has inaugurated the Multi-Purpose Counseling and Family Development Center in Santa Barbara town. It is the first center to be inaugurated this year.

Other centers that were first inaugurated and made operational since 2017 are in the towns of Alimodian, San Miguel, Oton, Cabatuan, Duenas, and Concepcion. (PNA)