Tomas Osias, PopCom executive director said that while the country's population growth rate is on the decline in the past years, the "absolute number" of Filipinos continues to rise.
The current population growth rate is 1.95 percent, which according to Osias, is high in relation to the ideal total fertility rate of 2.1 percent. "Total fertility rate means that the average number of children born to a woman during her child-bearing age of 15 to 49 is 3.5 percent or at least three children," he said.
At present, the total fertility rate is pegged at 3.5 percent..
He explained that to achieve the total fertility rate of 2.1 percent, a Filipino woman must give birth to only two children.
The PopCom director adds, "To achieve the ideal fertility rate of 2.1 percent, our PGR must also go down to less than one percent. However, a PGR reduction from 2.36 to a projected 1.95 is already a very good performance for the Philippines. If the trend continues, we can catch up with Thailand after some time."
Since 2001, the country's population was increasing by 1.6 million annually.
Osias said between 1960 and 1970, the Philippines and Thailand were on equal footing in social, demographic and economic status. Their population growth rates were both at three percent, he added.
Osias said Thailand became more aggressive in its population management program, while the Philippines was held back by strong opposition from the Catholic Church to the promotion of artificial methods of birth control.
