Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) urged local government units (LGUs) in Central Luzon to consider barangay population density classification in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
POPCOM Regional Director Lourdes Nacionales emphasized the Demographic Vulnerability (DV) Assessment bared those barangays classified to be of medium density (101-200 persons per hectare) have the highest averages of cases and deaths per barangay, with 8,714 cases in 140 barangays (or 62 cases per barangay) and 176 deaths in 77 barangays (or 2.29 deaths per barangay).
“It is very important to know the socio-economic profile and characteristics of the people from these areas classified as vulnerable based on the assessment. This is critical to create or implement proper COVID-19 mitigation measures that will help to address the issues of virus transmission proactively,” Nacionales explained.
“The DV assessment findings may also aid LGUs in prevention or control of the pandemic and other emergency situations as this tool could also help local decision-makers in coming up with proper interventions and mitigation strategies appropriate in their situation,” she furthered.
With this, the regional head put forward the need for LGUs to update their DV Assessment tool to validate findings particularly on demographics as well as the COVID-19 cases and deaths.
“LGUs must ensure the availability of relevant demographic data particularly at the barangay level for future reference in the occurrence of similar situations,” she said.
Moreover, Nacionales encouraged LGUs to update the demographic and population issues as POPCOM’s assessment also points out the necessity for data-gathering and analysis for proper planning in times of emergency. (CLJD/TJBM-PIA 3)