The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) estimated that unplanned pregnancies will reach 214,000 due to the community quarantine.
The average number of births per year is 1.7 million. However, it may reach almost 2 million in 2021.
POPCOM admitted that the delivery of family planning service during quarantine has been delayed.
“Because there will be around 600,000 women who may not be able to get family planning services…partly because nahirapan din silang magbiyahe, walang public transport (they had a hard time travelling since there is no public transport)” POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III disclosed.
He also stated that one unplanned pregnancy can have a huge effect on the lives of each Filipino family.
The commission encouraged married couples to coordinate with its office for free family planning service. POPCOM also urged local government units (LGUs) to strengthen the distribution of the said service amid the pandemic. – Report from Cleizl Pardilla
