1,272 barangays registered highest number of COVID-19 cases –POPCOM

The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) on Sunday said 1,272 barangays registered the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the country, adding that these villages reported an average of 137 cases over eight months - from September 2020 to April 15, 2021.

In a statement, POPCOM said that all the barangays mentioned had high population densities (HDs) or had populations of 201 to 999 persons per hectare which is above the average of 200 persons per hectare.

Barangay 73 in Caloocan City had the highest density in the country with 19,506 people in one hectare.

Meanwhile, POPCOM also said that the 20,889 barangays in the Philippines had an average of 19 cases during the eight months. It also noted that 15,252 communities remained free from coronavirus disease in the same period.

On the other hand, POPCOM said 35,149 barangays had low population densities (LD) and medium population, which means there are below 200 people per hectare.

Citing figures from DOH, POPCOM also released the latest version of its "demographic vulnerabilities tool or DVT, which displays, based on its classifications, the latest figures on barangays, together with the effects of the pandemic in each of them."

POPCOM said 63.4% of barangays nationwide reported COVID-19 infections, with 11.5% tallying deaths in the eight-month period.

For COVID-19 deaths, 3,348 LDs and MDs had 6,186, or 1.84 per barangay. In HDs, 1,941 lost their lives—or 3.38 fatalities per barangay—"an average almost twice as many in less-densely populated barangays."

Vaccine rollout, pandemic programs

Undersecretary for Population and Development Juan Antonio Perez III said the DVT will be useful for local governments as it could be used to identify barangays with an upsurge of virus cases and deaths, allowing the LGUs to address the COVID-19 contagion in their communities.

“Even LDs have higher-than-expected death rates not commensurate with the number of cases. This is because of the lack of access of residents’ to health-care facilities which are mostly located in cities or municipalities,” Perez said.

“We can say that the lack of medical workers, as well as geographic limitations, pose impediments to their required level of medical care,” he added.

Likewise, Perez recommended that DOH and LGUs may use the DVT as a basis for rolling out vaccines in the country.

"In terms of family planning, barangays with high numbers of COVID-19 cases will also be monitored, as health systems in these areas remain compromised for related services," Perez added.

NCR with most HD barangays

In addition, POPCOM said that the National Capital Region registered the highest number of very high-density barangays among the localities in the NCR Plus Bubble. Metro Manila had 90 very high density barangays and 483 HD barangays.

This was followed by Cavite with four VHDs and 169 HDs; Laguna with 72 HDs; Bulacan with two VHDs and 14 HDs, and Rizal with 18 HDs.

Central Luzon, excluding Bulacan, recorded the highest number of VHDs with 14 and HD with 84.

Calabarzon reported one VHD and 79 HDs. In the Visayas, Region VII had six VHDs and 50 HDs. Region VI had five VHDs and 89 HDs.

In Mindanao, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao registered the most VHDs at 11 and HDs at 52; Region XI with 2 and 23; while Region IX has 3 and 20. — DVM, GMA News