Fertility survey mirrors changing face of Philippine society

Published November 19, 2022, 12:02 AM

by Manila Bulletin

Demographic surveys are important because their results become the basis for a lot of policy-making and legislative action that form the basis of governance. These samplings also show changes in behavior, consumer preferences and overall ideological bent of the population, and thus have a huge bearing on business and the economy.

Quietly but efficiently, the National Health Demographic Survey (NHDS) was completed this year under the auspices of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and it confirmed what many in the country’s urban areas have thought all along:  the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of Filipino women 15- to 49-years old now stands at 1.9 children — which means that each Filipino married woman wants a maximum of two children.

According to Population Commission (POPCOM) Officer-In-Charge Executive Director Lolito Tacardon, this latest TFR number reinforces the PSA’s findings in February this year that the Philippines is now in a “demographic transition” with low levels of fertility and mortality. 

Tacardon and other population experts said “this significant decline in total fertility rate offers both an opportunity, as well as a challenge.”

They positively see this as a “breakthrough” for the country’s programs on population and development as well as family planning, which were instituted more than five decades ago.

Economists see this sharp decrease in TFR of Filipino women not a cause for alarm but rather an advantage because it has the potential of being the catalyst in hastening socioeconomic development in the country.  In particular, low TFR can improve labor force participation and reduce poverty with couples devoting more time to productive endeavors and livelihood activities.

“Focus should now be on ensuring that the quality and capacity of the country’s human resources are enhanced. At the household level, lower fertility also means greater opportunity for personal development of couples and individuals, which can redound to more savings and investments,” the POPCOM chief said.