The Philippine population will have an increase of around 2 million by next year, the Commission on Population said Thursday.
According to POPCOM executive director Juan Antonio III, approximately 1.8 million babies are expected with another 200,000 due to the pandemic, citing projection by the University of the Philippines’ Population Institute and the United Nations Population Fund.
POPCOM attributes the increase as millions of people are on lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not have access to family planning methods.
“Alam naman natin sa loob ng household ay…hindi naman ganun kastrikto. Sa mag-asawa di mo madidikta ‘yan so nangyayari pa rin ‘yun,” Antonio said during a television interview.
Ten percent or around 180,000 teenagers give birth every year, according to Antonio, adding that the agency is working with the Department of Health in its campaign against unplanned pregnancies.
Health workers distributed three months’ supply of birth control pills house-to-house last March and will have to distribute again, he said
For those seeking reproductive health information, the public may call POPCOM through these numbers: (02) 8782-9284; (02) 8531-6897; 0917-597-0770; and 0998-865-2810.
POPCOM’s wellness clinic in Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City is also open Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
POPCOM estimates that the Philippines has a population of 108 million people, according to 2015 projections.
The Philippine Statistics Authority placed the growth rate in 2015, the last census, at 1.72 percent.
The next census is set for this year.