Amid reports of a declining fertility rate in the Philippines, several government and international agencies have called for investments and policy decisions that will advance gender equality and attain the right demographic dividend for the country.
In a joint statement issued by the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) on July 11, various stakeholders said country will have to make the right investments and policy decisions in order for it to reap its benefits, by investing in people throughout their life course.
“Currently, the Philippines is at a unique crossroads with its changing demographics. As the country is undergoing a demographic transition, the country will need to work towards demographic resilience: the quality or state of being able to adapt and thrive amid demographic changes,” UNFPA Philippines Country Representative Dr. Leila Saiji Joudane noted in the statement.
Currently, the declining fertility rate of the Philippines will result in a window of opportunity where the country has a productive population that is larger than its dependent population, according to POPCOM.
“The demographic dividend can be a powerful force. In order to reap its benefits, we need to ensure the rights of people — especially those most left behind — and provide access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. We need to also address gender inequality and other injustices that limit people from reaching their full potential,” Joudane said.
An opportunity or concern
The 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey reports that the total fertility rate for 15- to 49 year-old women has declined from 2.7 children in 2017 to 1.9 children in 2022, which is now below the replacement level of 2.1.
However, the same survey reports disparities across regions: while the total fertility rate in the National Capital Region (NCR) is 1.2, the total fertility rate in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is at 3.1.
“Downward trends in fertility rates can be viewed as either an opportunity for a country's development or a cause of concern. But as stated in the State of the World Population (SWP) Report 2023, we should be asking the right questions,” Joudane said.
“It’s not whether the fertility rate is too high or too low or if there are too many or too few people. What is important is that all individuals, especially women, are equipped to thrive and exercise their basic human right to sexual and reproductive autonomy,” she added.
World Population Day
For the celebration of World Population Day 2023 on July 11, POPCOM, UNFPA and PLCPD held a high-level meeting at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila to share with government, development partners, private sector and civil society leaders the importance of harnessing the 8-billion strong global population and the unique opportunity that the Philippines faces.
UNFPA presented its SWP report during the event, which served as an avenue to discuss the critical issues on the demographic transition, gender equality, human rights, population growth, and opportunities for sustainable development.
“We are keen on fulfilling the objective of optimizing demographic opportunities, as well as addressing the remaining population issues and challenges, so that we can maximize the Philippines’ socioeconomic dividend and have improved quality of life for Filipinos,” Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales, Ph.D, executive director of POPCOM, said.
Bersales noted that there has been a steady decline in the country’s total fertility rate since 1973 from an average of 6.0 children per woman to 1.9 last year.
“The steep decline in 2022, however, needs further study to determine how much of the decline is the effect of COVID-19,” she added. (OpinYon News Team)
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