City administrator Alvin Fernandez congratulates Mrs. Membla S. Kang who romped off with the Mrs. Buntis Day 2008 beauty pageant title organized by the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (Foundation) Inc. at the CSI Stadia.(CIO photo by Mitz Cresencio)

DAGUPAN CITY – A motorcade, exhibits, symposium and free clinic marked the 5^th national celebration here of the “Araw ng mga Buntis” (Pregnant Women Day) as provided for in Executive Order No. 569 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 9, 2004.

Dr. Ma. Corazon Gamilla, president of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (Foundation) (POGS), led the observance which was aimed at bringing due recognition to all pregnant women who are considered as heroes in their own rights by bringing another life into the world.

Ever since Proclamation No. 569 was issued, celebrations of the National Pregnant Women Day were held earlier in various cities in the Philippines yearly.

Dagupan City Administrator welcomed POGS officers and members throughout the country who converged at the CSI Stadia and Jimmy L. Fernandez Center here for the one-day event.

He also ordered all barangay captains to fetch all pregnant women from the city’s 31 barangays to undergo free clinics undertaken by well-known obstetricians and gynecologists throughout the country.

Dr. Gamilla said POGS makes itself relevant and significant to the society by supporting two of 10 millennium development goals of the Philippines up to 2010 which are on reproductive health and maternal care.

She, however, admitted that there are now only 3,000 trained obstetrician and gynecologists all over the country with one doctor having to serve 1,800 patients.

POGS, with chapters in various parts of the country, is now currently training midwives so that they can effectively provide maternal and child care in the rural areas, especially those far from the centers of the population.

Dr. Ellen Manzano, POGS regional director in the Ilocos, said the training will significantly help reduce the country’s mortality rate from a high of 200 to every 100,000 population.

POGS, at the same time, is conducting intensive information education drive targeting pregnant women so that they can adopt measures to ensure their health and also of their babies.

Dr. Rosendo Roque, one of the best obstetricians and gynecologists throughout the country, worked for the issuance of the presidential proclamation declaring Pregnant Women Day to provide concrete venue for information gathering, learning experience, stimulating discussion and challenging interaction among POGS members all over the country. (PNA)