Highly urbanized areas nationwide are on the brink of reaping an early demographic bonus, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
In a statement delivered in the 50th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development in New York, Neda Undersecretary Jose Miguel R. de la Rosa said this is largely due to the increase in the working-age population in urban areas.
De la Rosa said the number of Filipinos aged 15 to 64 as a percentage of the population increased to 63 percent in 2010, from 52 percent in 1990.
“There is a steady increase in the working-age population. If sustained, this could provide a window for a demographic dividend. Moreover, our highly urbanized regions are now actually facing the prospect of such a demographic bonus,” de la Rosa said.
De la Rosa said, however, a demographic bonus or dividend that can be enjoyed by the entire country is still not imminent.
He said, for one, the responsible parenthood and reproductive-health law has yet to be implemented given legal impediments.
To date, the Supreme Court has not lifted its temporary restraining order (TRO) on the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012.
“But the government, in close collaboration with civil society, the private sector and local government units, continues to intensify demand generation and service delivery interventions to promote access by Filipinos to reproductive-health services, especially maternal health and family-planning services,” de la Rosa said.
The RPRH law can help manage the country’s growing population, which grows at an annual rate of 1.7 percent. This translates to an average fertility rate of three children per woman.
De la Rosa said this is largely due to the increased number of births among adolescents.
In 2013 around 13.6 percent of women aged 15 to 19 years old already began childbearing. This was significantly higher than the 6 percent recorded in 2002.
“The poorest 20 percent of the population have a total fertility rate of five children per woman. The Philippines remains within a high population growth scenario,” de la Rosa said.
Nonetheless, the Neda official assured the UN that the Philippines remains committed to implement the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, and pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
De la Rosa said the government has identified strategies to respond to these challenges through the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017 to 2022.
He said the country’s medium- term socioeconomic blueprint includes strengthening the population management program to hasten a decline in the population- growth rate.
The PDP also outlines the government’s plan to improve the quality of human capital for more inclusive participation in national development, as well as sustain economic growth anchored on improved human-resource use and good governance based on transparency, accountability and good practice.
He said the country also hopes that there will be greater South-South, as well as international cooperation on these matters.
“While the prospect of a demographic dividend remains distant, we consider this period of transition as a window of opportunity to prepare our population to reap its gains by setting up the socioeconomic preconditions,” de la Rosa said.
The SDGs, or Global Goals, are a set of 17 socioeconomic goals that 193 United Nations member-countries, like the Philippines, committed to meet by 2030. The goals are composed of around 169 targets and over 300 global indicators. The SDGs were adopted in September 2015.
The Global Goals aim to end poverty and hunger; promote universal health, education for all and lifelong learning; achieve gender equality, sustainable water management; ensure sustainable energy for all, decent work for all, resilient infrastructure; and reduce income inequality between and among countries.
The goals also include create sustainable cities, ensure sustainable consumption and production, take action against climate change, conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources, reduce biodiversity loss, achieve peaceful and inclusive societies and revitalize global partnership for development.