Population, health confab set here on Wednesday

Seventy foreign delegates from 17 countries are coming to Cebu to participate in the three-day Second National Conference on Population, Health and Environment at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in barangay Lahug starting tomorrow.

The three-day event which carries the theme "PHE: Creating our Future" aims to bring together key players in the fields of population, health, and environment to focus on links for sustainable development.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will grace the event to welcome the participants of the conference being organized by the Philippine Legislative Committee on Population and Development, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Inc.; Conservation International, Inc.; PATH Foundation Philippines, Inc.; Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, Population Reference Bureau, Save the Children/US-PhFO, Commission on Population, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Reproductive Health Advocacy Network, and World Wildlife Fund; and supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Philippine Legislative Committee on Population and Development deputy director Romeo Dongeto said they expect the conference to draw in around 300 international and local participants and that the event will be interactive, participatory and practical.

Among the proposed topics for discussion are the relevance of integrating PHE in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the importance of common indicators on PHE projects, which approaches at both international and local levels should be used to maximize impact given local realities, Philippine case studies on PHE, achievements and challenges following the first national conference in Antipolo City, identification of resources, capacities, gaps and needs in policy advocacy; resource mobilization and research and the procedures on how to effectively communicate PHE to the media and policymakers.

There will also be a hands-on training on Geographic Information System and a site visit to the Gilutongan Marine Sanctuary in Cordova town.

A multi-media approach is envisaged along with discussions and presentations.