POPCOM to celebrate birthday of CV’s 100 millionth babies

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Population will be throwing a party next week for the first birthday of the six babies in Central Visayas who are part of the “symbolic 100-millionth baby.”

POPCOM-7, together with the Department of Health, the National Nutrition Council and PhilHealth will be throwing a party for the six toddlers for free at the Golden Valley Hotel.

The 100-millionth babies from Central Visayas include the two from Cebu Province (municipalities of Sogod and Pinamungajan), two from Negros  Occidental and one each from Bohol and Siquijor.

They were born on July 27, 2014, which marked the country’s population reaching the 100-million mark.

Lawyer Bruce Ragas, POPCOM-7 regional director, said the babies were chosen to symbolize “hope” and “prosperity.”

“Hope for better quality of life as he/she optimizes the challenge to make every Filipino count in prosperity and development,” he said.

Ragas earlier said a growing population means a larger workforce.

“…symbol of a challenge to all institutions and every Filipino to count on each other to live in a healthy, productive, and livable environment,” he added.

He also said that the birth of the baby “signifies a happy, as well as a challenging demographic moment in the lives of every Filipino.”

The search was open to all babies born on 12:06 a.m. or seconds later on July 27 in a government-licensed health facility run by the national or the local government. Only babies who were born through normal delivery were qualified.

According to the search guidelines, the facility must be certified as observing the Philippine Standard Time and the birth must be certified by the attending birth attendant/doctor.

The winners’ parents each received a P5,000 starter kit for newborns. —/ATO (FREEMAN)