Manila: The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) on Thursday marked its 57th anniversary with a renewed call to revise the country's national population policy, citing major demographic shifts that require updated and integrated strategies.
According to Philippines News Agency, CPD Deputy Executive Director Lolito Tacardon emphasized the transition the Philippines has undergone since the 1970s, moving from high fertility and rapid population growth to a more complex demographic landscape. Tacardon noted, "This 57th anniversary, we are highlighting the need to strengthen our population and development initiatives because of the changing demographic landscape in our country."
Tacardon explained that during the era when the national population policy was first enacted, the country was dealing with high fertility, with a total fertility rate of six children per woman. This has now changed drastically, with the current total fertility rate at 1.9 children per woman of reproductive age, reflecting shifts in fertility preferences among Filipino women.
While population growth has slowed, the overall number continues to rise, reaching approximately 112 million in 2020. The CPD is now addressing challenges such as population aging, rapid urbanization, rural depopulation, migration, and adolescent pregnancy.
Tacardon highlighted a positive trend, noting that 63 percent of Filipinos are now in the working-age group, between 15 and 64 years old. This presents a demographic dividend that can be maximized through employment, education, and human capital development.
The decline in fertility rates is contributing to an increase in the aging population, which requires long-term planning anchored on a life-course approach. Tacardon emphasized the need for stronger data systems, program convergence, sustained financing, institutional resilience, and foresighted governance to address these demographic shifts.
"The strategies we design today will shape the life chances of future Filipinos. The programs we implement now will influence how our demographic transition unfolds in the decades to come," Tacardon concluded.
