ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo provincial government is strengthening support for families and young people, emphasizing responsible parenthood and healthy family relationships as key to addressing social and mental health challenges among the youth.

The initiative was highlighted during the province’s first Responsible Parenthood and Family Development Summit, which gathered around 250 local government workers and other stakeholders.

Organized by the Provincial Population Office headed by lawyer Ruel Von Superio, the summit brought together Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers, local civil registrars, Pre-Marriage Orientation and Counseling teams and representatives of partner agencies.

In his keynote address, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. urged stakeholders to support the province’s PRIME (Program for Resilience of Iloilo in Mind and Emotion) Helpline and encouraged parents to take a more active role in guiding their children, particularly in their use of social media.

Defensor said responsible parenthood goes beyond providing for children’s basic needs and includes creating supportive families that help young people cope with pressures affecting their mental well-being.