QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- More Filipino families are probably seeing the importance of family planning due to the economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic and this has resulted in the Philippines' decline in population numbers.

According to the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), the population of the Philippines achieved a record in 2021, where there’s only a 0.3 percent increase compared to 2020.

It was projected that the overall number of Filipinos have climbed by only 324,000 during 2021 comparing it to an increase of 914,797, with reference to PSA’s vital statistics, in 2020.

POPCOM Undersecretary Dr. Juan A. Perez III  explained how the growing number of couples seek family planning commodities and services around the country, to delay having children or creating a family during the pandemic and economic crisis. 

Usec. Perez also emphasized that if interventions on population and development are maintained, the low population growth over the last two years can provide opportunities for achieving a more stable population that can support socioeconomic development at the national and household levels. 

“Smaller family sizes need to be supported by a national living wage structure that also allows parents to save for their households’ unmet needs in food, housing and education. Uneven regional wage structures only lead to individuals falling further behind than those in progressive areas such as the National Capital Region, CALABARZON and Central Luzon,” he added.

Usec. Perez also assured that a more updated projected population in 2021 will be provided as soon as data becomes available because the estimated population for 2021 does not yet reflect foreign migration throughout the year, and that the civil registration data provided by PSA is also subject to underreporting and late reporting. 

POPCOM continues to deliver family planning services across the country. In the National Capital Region (NCR), you can avail of these services FREE of charge on regular days. (PIA-NCR)