PH Population growth slows down

This news is most welcome before the year ends.

According to Population Commission, the Philippine population growth slowed down by 0.2 percent, resulting in a drop of 1.2 million from the projected population increase by 2020.

“[This is] proof that our nationwide efforts on reproductive health, as well as family planning, are yielding positive results as they are steadily being embraced by Filipinos,” said Popcom executive director Juan Antonio Perez III.

One of the worlds busiest maternity ward, Jose Fabella Hospital
(photo credit to owner)

Between 2010 and 2015, the country’s population growth declined to 1.52 percent from 1.73 percent, Popcom said. Government estimates by July 2020 , the Philippine population is projected to be 108.7 million, a drop of 1.2 million, Perez said.

The biggest decline of 4 percent is seen in the 0-14 age group, from 34 percent in 2010 to 30.14 percent in 2020.

More Senior Citizens

The number of senior citizens in the country from the (age 60 and above) bracket is “growing at a faster rate than other age groups,” Perez said. By 2020, the elderly are seen to make up 8.8 percent, or 9.7 million, of the total population.

Perez noted that 64 percent, or 70.3 million Filipinos, will still be of working age next year.

Despite the decline, government officials should not sleep on their laurels, since the country continues to have the distinction in Southeast Asia as one of the highest population.

“It would still take a comprehensive approach that links government efforts to nongo­vernment organizations and the private sector to [enable] population programs like family planning to reach every community in all 42,000 barangays nationwide,” Perez said.

“There are still lingering issues that we all have to address as we usher in the new decade, among them the management of limited resources in the face of climate change, unrestrained internal migration leading to congestion in urban areas, as well as the disturbing rise of adolescent and teenage pregnancy nationwide,” Perez said.

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Report from PDI