A veteran lawmaker in the Philippines is taking seriously jokes in the country that the pandemic lockdown may produce a baby boom.

This is why Edcel Lagman, a member of the House of Representatives, the equivalent of the House of Commons in Canada, is calling on the Asian nation's government to ensure the free distribution of condoms and contraceptives.

Lagman’s suggestion was widely reported by Philippine media organizations on Monday (April 6) as deaths and infections continue to rise in the country because of the novel coronavirus.

“In the midst of lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, spouses and partners need to avail themselves of contraceptives and other effective methods of family planning to prevent unplanned, unwanted and high-risk pregnancies,” Lagman said in a press statement quoted by media.

Lagman is the author of a law that provides for the free distribution of reproductive health supplies and services to poor people.

“Drugstores and pharmacies must have adequate stocks of contraceptives and other RH [reproductive health] supplies for those who could afford to buy reproductive health products,” Lagman said in statement, according to media reports.

The Department of Health in the Philippines announced Tuesday (April 7) that the country has recorded 3,764 COVID-19 cases, and 177 deaths.