MANILA, Philippines — By the year 2030, the country’s demographic can already be considered an aging population, according to the Commission on Population on Development (CPD).
“Our population continues to grow, but in a slow manner. There is growth, but in a small number only,” CPD executive director Lisa Bersales said on the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program yesterday. “The UN (United Nations) then can already classify the Philippine population as an aging one. This means those 60 years old and above (are increasing),” she added.
The CPD chief also said that they already provided authorities information concerning this particular population issue.
“We at the CPD already alerted concerned government agencies on this since there is a need to make better the living conditions of our senior citizens,” said Bersales.
An aging population refers to the increase in the percentage of older people, or those aged 60 years and above, in a given country. This also means the number of the young population, or those aged 15 years old and below, is decreasing. The CPD has attributed this projection to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 was really a big factor. Only a few (couples) got married. There were also a small number of women who gave birth,” Bersales said.
At the same time, the CPD said there was an increase in mortality. “There were many deaths that is why the projection is slow in terms of increase in population,” Bersales added.
The commission also pointed out that a study made by the United Nations Population Fund and National Economic and Development Authority showed that the implementation of the K-12 program in the country has resulted to less pregnancies.
“Since there were additional years added to the basic education of the youth, this meant the focus of young members of the population now are on their studies, thus delaying activities causing teenage pregnancy,” Bersales said.
The CPD earlier said the country’s population may reach 112 million by the end of 2023 or at the outset of 2024.
The agency added that the Philippine Statistics Authority is set to come out with its nationwide projection on the population before the end of January.