POPCOM amplifies call to address demographic vulnerabilities

The Commission on Population-Region VI joins the entire nation in celebrating Population and Development (POPDEV) Week on November 23-29 themed “Addressing vulnerabilities during pandemic.”

Demographic vulnerabilities pertain to the demographic characteristics of a population that may cause or enhance the exposure or possibility of individuals and segments of the population to be infected with a communicable disease. It may also include households and areas with high density of population, and the presence of vulnerable sector of the population like older persons, people with disabilities, especially those living alone or living in a large household in congested spaces.

“This year’s celebration emphasizes the inter-relationship of various demographic dimensions and characteristics to the current pandemic and how these characteristics aid in either facilitating or mitigating the spread of these epidemics and pandemics,” explained POPCOM VI Director Harold Alfred Marshall.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, POPCOM, DILG, NEDA and DOH issued JMC No. 2020-01 to assess the demographic vulnerability of communities for program planning and interventions.

This resulted in the development of the Demographic Vulnerability Tool which assessed the vulnerability of communities and households to COVID 19.

The tool looked into household size, floor area of domicile, senior citizens’ living arrangements. When put together the result determine the high, medium or low vulnerability level of a community to COVID 19.

In Western Visayas, there were 693,122 houses with 20 square meters or less, with 3,432,587 persons living in such small spaces. With an average household size of five persons living in these houses, it would be difficult to practice physical distancing and eventually hasten the spread of the virus.

The results of the Demographic Vulnerability Profile have been presented to the Provinces of Antique, Capiz, Negros Occidental, and Iloilo. It has been presented in regional gatherings such as the Regional Population Management Conference, and the Social Development Council.

The results of the Demographic Vulnerability Profile were found so useful that the Regional Development Council passed Resolution No. 25, Series of 2020 ENDORSING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE USE OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC VULNERABILITY TOOL IN REVIEWING HOUSEHOLD STANDARDS SET IN BP BLG 220.

The Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of COVID 19 of Capiz Province also passed Resolution No. 01 Series of 2020 RESOLUTION ENJOINING ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND CITY IN THE PROVINCE OF CAPIZ TO USE IMPORTANT DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES (DEMOGRAPHIC VULNERABILITY TOOL) IN THE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MONITORING OF PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

“To fight the threat of COVID 19 must be met with not only medical intervention but with a better understanding of demographic factors facilitating its spread. It takes convergence of efforts and experts to ensure that our actions are not knee-jerk but sustainable and developmental”, Dir. Marshall added.

Population and Development Week was created by virtue of Proclamation No. 76 signed on October 20, 1992, by then President Fidel V. Ramos.