Curbing Philippine Population Growth

The 2008 Philippine population report of the National Statistics Office came out recently. It indicated that population growth in the country, considered one of the highest in the world with a baby born every three minutes, has slowed down for the first time since the 1960s.

Finally, after years of desperate effort from government to slow down baby-production in this country, there is a positive sign that Filipinos have decided to turn their attention instead to activities that are financially rewarding.

It’s about time since there is currently a global food crisis and a looming environment problem.

The Asian Development Bank put the Philippines' population growth rate as of 2006 at 2.1 percent, similar to Laos and Malaysia but higher than Thailand's 0.8 percent rate, Vietnam's 1.4 percent, and Indonesia's 1.3 percent. The Philippines ranks as the second most populous country in Southeast Asia next to Indonesia, which has 222 million people.

More liberal and like minded individuals are hoping that the growth rate will ease further to 1.95 percent or better yet 0.8 percent (similar to Thailand) by 2010 in what economists say would tremendously help the economic development of our country.

An average Filipino family has about 5 members. This is actually more than what a single breadwinner can handle. The good news is that the growing middle class and more opportunities for education has increasingly led Filipinos to delay marriage and families.

A friend who chose to remain single was wondering what the benefits are for having children… considering the enormous amount of money required to raise them. “Are we having children because our society or family expects it?” I said it’s probably because they want companionship or someone to take care of them during old age. She suggested getting a puppy or hiring a caregiver or better yet have more "real" friends who you can treat as family… it’s cheaper. “Besides having children, doesn’t guarantee you’ll get what you want.”

I'm wondering whether some Filipinos are in denial about the population problem. We blame pollution, deforestation, climate change for our environment woes but fail to make the connection on population growth.

Costs of having many children are shouldered not just by the family and the community, but also the environment. Crowded places are heavily import-dependent for the basic needs of their people such as water and food. We need areas to grow rice, corn, fruits etc. We also need space to store water.

Come to think of it, is retaining a natural environment that nourishes both body and soul important to Filipinos ?