3,700 cases of violence vs women, children recorded during ECQ

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 3,700 violent incidents against women and children have been recorded while the country is under quarantine because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, according to President Duterte.

In his 11th report to Congress on the government’s pandemic response, Duterte said police have recorded a total of 1,945 cases of violence against women and 1,754 violent incidents against children since the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Malacañang said it was saddened by the rise in the number of violent incidents and urged the public to report these to authorities.

“It was saddening that the number increased while we are under quarantine and members of the family are together. Report them so the perpetrators can be punished,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Duterte said the Philippine Commission on Women has been actively responding to relevant inquiries received through various electronic platforms.

He added that the commission is also implementing its violence against women referral system, which provides for a national mechanism for monitoring and reducing gender-based violence.

Unintended pregnancies

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday expressed alarm over the possible increase in unintended pregnancies in the country due to the disruption of family planning services in health care facilities because of COVID-19.

Citing a study of the United States Agency for International Development, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 25 percent of family planning services in the country’s local hospitals and rural health units have been “hampered” due to the pandemic.

“This is critical. We may eventually have issues because family planning services are hampered by disruption in staffing and, of course, it follows that services will be inadequate,” Vergeire said at a press briefing.

She added that the understaffing could be a result of the failure of health workers to report for work due to lack of public transportation.

Aside from this, many health workers have also been diverted to attend to COVID-19 patients while there are others who could not report for duty because they themselves are also vulnerable to the virus.

The study was done in March or at the start of the ECQ imposed over the entire Luzon to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Global estimates indicate that up to seven million babies will be born if the lockdowns being implemented by various countries will continue in the next six months, according to Vergeire.

In an earlier statement, the Commission on Population (PopCom) had also expressed concern that the lockdowns would allow couples to have more intimate moments without using protection.

PopCom had appealed to LGUs to continuously provide family planning information and services in the community despite the ECQ.

The DOH also received feedback from hospitals and rural health units that there has been a decline in pre-natal consultations and delivery since the start of the lockdown.

Vergeire cautioned that missing pre-natal consultations is dangerous not only for the infants but also for the mothers.

The official added that giving birth at home is “not encouraged” because this also entails risks both for mother and infant, especially if the pregnancy and delivery are complicated.