By Sweeden Velado-Ramirez
The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) is working closely with local government units (LGUs) to guarantee the steady supply of family planning (FP) commodities to the NCR Plus bubble (National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) while it is under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
POPCOM said they will ensure the house-to-house deliveries of contraceptive pills and condoms, explaining that if access to FP commodities and services are impeded, it will adversely impact about 700,000 women and men who are using these items.
This could result in deferred usage and hampered practice of family planning by couples and individuals residing in NCR Plus.
Unintended pregnancies may also occur in one of three women who cannot continue their family planning practice, according to the 2020 study of the University of the Philippines (UPPI) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) entitled: “Potential Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Philippines.”
POPCOM Chief and Undersecretary of Population and Development (POPDEV) Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, MPH said while the current ECQ is of limited duration, it will affect a third of the population and might take its toll on local health systems.
“We have noted that last year, the NCR and surrounding provinces performed poorly in terms of family planning and reproductive health,” the POPCOM chief said. “Thus, we need to double on our efforts to ensure we get back on track with our provisions for those relying on our family planning services nationwide.”
He also said that POPCOM and the Department of Health are concerned that there may be very few health workers able to provide or extend family services, given the pressing need to attend and prioritize COVID-19 cases not just in NCR Plus, but also in other areas with rising numbers of infections.
Perez added, “We are aware that their hands are currently full. But we know our innate bayanihan spirit can prevail over the pandemic, and that we can count on the full and unwavering support of our community volunteers in these very trying times. We assure them that their collective determination will not, and will never, be in vain.”
