By Emme Rose Santiagudo
The almost two-month lockdown amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and limited access to family planning commodities could lead to a spike in the population of Western Visayas by 28,816, according to the Commission on Population in Region 6 (POPCOM 6).
Harold Alfred Marshall, POPCOM 6 regional director, said the two-month lockdown can lead to unplanned pregnancies, especially for families with limited or no access to family planning commodities.
“We are expecting an increase sa population here in the region due to the almost two months of quarantine. The shutdown of business establishments has forced workers and family members to stay at home thereby increasing the chances of unprotected sex which can lead to unplanned pregnancy,” Marshall told Daily Guardian in a phone interview on Thursday.
Citing the 2010 and 2015 census in the region, POPCOM 6 estimates that the population in the region can increase up to 14,408 in the past two months. This projection can double to 28,216 considering the lockdowns and other impacts of COVID-19.
As local government units (LGUs) focus on fighting the pandemic, Marshall expressed his concern on the implication of unplanned pregnancies especially to workers who lost their jobs and low-income families.
“Ano ang implication sini kon makita naton ang kapigaduhon daan ti duwa ka bulan nga lockdown wala trabaho, ano ang pakaon sa bag-o nga myembro sang pamilya nine months after kon ang amay wala gani trabaho possible nga nalay off siya ukon ang iya gintrabahuhan nagsira,” he said.
There is also a growing concern on the increase of teenage pregnancies amid the crisis, Marshall added.
“You know naman ang mga kabataan subong very creative sila sa pagpangita sang paagi nga magkit-anay especially nga two months gin-restrict ang ila movement kag karon more or less nakagwa na sila sa ila balay. Amo na dako man ang risgo. We will see if nag-spike gid man after nine months,” he said.
The total population in Western Visayas is at 7.4 million, according to Marshall.
More than 1.5 million of the total population in the region is composed of adolescents aged 15 up to 19 years old.
Marshall said 10.9 percent of the adolescents in the region are considered mothers or have already given birth while 15.1 percent have begun childbearing.
“Hopefully indi siya magdugang due to the consequences of lockdown,” he said.
According to Marshall, the local government units (LGUs) should be aware and be prepared of the underlying implications mentioned caused by COVID-19.
“Ang ginalantaw da naton how will the local government respond to this increase in population with the new members of the community so amo na dapat preparahan sang aton LGU. Kay ang local government gid naton amo ni sila ang masalo sang responsibility of taking care sang 28,816 additional population,” he said.
Marshall underscored the need of LGUs to distribute family planning commodities among households amid the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
“We really need to look into the implication of COVID-19 as far as managing fertility and population size that is why gina-advocate gid namon nga maskin may COVID pa indi tani pag-untaton ang papanagtag sang family planning commodities sa mga mag-asawa,” he emphasized.
He commended some LGUs in the region who continue the distribution of family planning commodities aside from the relief goods and social amelioration program (SAP).
“We have received reports nga may mga LGUs gihapon nga ginasige nila ila pagpanagtag sang family planning commodities and services,” he added.
Marshall added that LGUs should also ensure that health services for newborns and mothers will continue despite the pandemic.
He also reiterated to household members in the region the importance of responsible parenthood.
“We want to reiterate ang responsible parenthood. It is your ability to respond to the needs sang family whether you are the mother or father,” Marshall said.
In the same way, Marshall said that LGUs and even the national government have also the same responsibility of providing all the essential needs and safeguards of the residents.
“We need to be vigilant and at the same time cooperate with our local and national government. We should practice physical distancing, wearing of masks, and frequent hand washing,” he noted.
