A marriage forum and renewal of vows for 16 couples who are persons deprived with liberty (PDLs) from the male and female dorm of the Baguio Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was held on Feb. 18.
On Valentine’s Day, 30 couples from the 4Ps identified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office also underwent a marriage encounter facilitated by the Uplife movement.
Discussions revolved around love and communication in marriage; legitimization of marriage entries by the Local Civil Registrar; and handling violence in marriage by the Baguio City Police Office Women and Children Protection Desk (BCPO-WCPD).
Other forthcoming activities are students’ love, courtship, marriage, and adolescent reproductive health fora conducted through the efforts of the CSWDO, Department of Education, BCPO, Health Services Office, Special Services Division-City Mayor’s Office, and the Sangguniang Kabataan.
The CSWDO is also calling interested couples married for 25 years or more, to enlist at their district or the main office for a city-sponsored renewal of vows on March 2.
Marriage counseling for couples is also ongoing at the social welfare unit offices, CSWDO head Liza Bulayungan said.
Family counseling, renewal of vows, discipleship, and continuous marriage and post-marriage enrichment is also done in coordination with the Uplife movement.
The Civil Registrar’s Office according to its head Luz Perez, is also calling on cohabitating couples for the past five years or more to legalize their marriage through their office in June. They may submit the requirements at the LCR office, T. Alonzo street, beside the HSO.
The marriage week theme for this year is “Marriage: One flesh, given and received,” and subtheme, “The He-A.R.T of marriage, beating together as one.”
Despite being behind bars, Baguio PDLs are recipients of social services including interfaith devotion, mass, bible studies, prayer meeting; values education; reproductive health lecture through the Department of Health; health education and counseling for married dormers.
The PDLs also receive skills and livelihood training from the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, such as baking, pastry-making, electronics repair, manicure and pedicure training.
They are also now allowed face-to-face visits from family members. – Julie G. Fianza
July 27, 2024
