The Philippines' yearly population growth pace has slowed as more Filipino in the predominantly Roman Catholic country use contraception.
Outcome of the 2015 census show the population grew 1.72 percent last year, down from 1.9 percent during the previous census in 2010, the Commission on Population said.
The population of 100.98 million was half a million lower than what was forecast in 2010, the commission's Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III said.
Philippines was 12th Ranked for Most Populous Country in the World Reported by United Nations Data
Its population will reach 103.48 million by the end this year, under calculations using the same growth formula, Perez said.
Perez said the usage of modern-day contraceptives has accumulated, with 45% of couples using modern contraceptives as of last year, up from 38% recorded by a national survey in 2013.
"We have noted an increase in the use of modern contraceptives between 2013 onwards," he said in a telephone interview, adding that and a natural drop-off in fertility because women are choosing to have less children could also be a factor behind the slower population growth.
Perez said the census results, which were officially unveiled last week, also showed family size differed among socio-economic classes. Richer Filipinos have one or two children while the poorest have five or more children, or two children more than what women say they want, he added.
"We also noted in the census that it is the poorer regions of the country out of Manila which have higher fertility and we presume large numbers of the poor are in those regions," Perez said.
A national law that provides government funding for contraceptives was passed in 2012 despite strong opposition from Catholic church leaders. The law took effect after the Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that it was constitutional except for a few provisions.
With the slower population growth rate, he said the Philippines' population is expected to double in 40 years, or two years longer than had been expected, giving the country more time to prepare and to exert more efforts to reduce the unmet need for family planning of some 4 million to 5 million couples who want to limit or space their children.
But he said a suggestion by the Philippines' likely next president, Duterte, for families to limit their children to three cannot be mandated. Perez said under the law, Filipifamilies are given advised to decide on how many children they could have.
Watch Mayor Duterte Speaks About The 3 Child Policy
Duterte: 3-Child Policy Is Just A ‘Suggestion’
'I cannot force the people to follow. We are just suggesting that you are in good hands if you just limit the number of your children,' says President-elect Rodrigo DuterteAside from promoting the 3-child limit to Filipino families, he said he would make artificial birth control readily available for all.
As Davao City mayor, he’s had experience implementing family-planning programs. Davao City was among the first to distribute contraceptives for free and supply aid to the poor women who wished to have tubal ligation.
Duterte said a more aggressive approach to family planning is necessary “because our resources cannot meet the demand.”
Souce: Rappler.com
Slow Philippine Population Growth Because Of Contraceptives Spread
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