MANDALUYONG CITY -- Despite expected increase in the fertility of Filipino women because of impeded access to family planning services during lockdowns and quarantine protocols, as well as the world’s total headcount projected to hit 8 billion on November 15, the Philippines was able to register recent population statistics unheard of in years, with fertility numbers plummeting to less than two offspring per woman. 

This was revealed during the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) National Health Demographic Survey (NDHS) 2022 Dissemination Forum last Friday, November 11, where it was announced that the total fertility rate (TFR) of Filipino women 15- to 49-years old now stands at 1.9 children, from 2.7 children in 2017. 

With the figure, the NDHS divulged that the country is already within the replacement fertility level of 2.1 children, or the fertility rate at which women give birth to enough babies to sustain population levels.

The survey also disclosed that the Philippines’ TFR has been on a downward trend since the 1970s, which was at 6 children per woman.  However, the decline from 2017 to 2022 was the sharpest ever recorded.

Same survey revealed that 1 in 2 currently married women said they no longer desire more children, while 17% want to delay their next childbirths for 2 or more years.

Demographic transition, opportunity: Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Officer In Charge-Executive Director Lolito R. Tacardon said that the significant decline in total fertility rate offers both an opportunity, as well as a challenge: “On one hand, this can be considered as a ‘breakthrough’ for the country’s programs on population and development (POPDEV) as well as family planning, which were instituted more than five decades ago.”

Tacardon further noted: “The Philippines’ latest TFR is now comparable to those of upper middle-income countries’ 1.8 children and Thailand at 1.5 children. In the ASEAN region, the Philippines has now the third-lowest after Singapore’s 1.1 children. It is lower than the Asian average of 2.2, and is comparable to Latin America’s and the Caribbean’s, which is at 2.0 children. The Philippines, however, has lower fertility levels than Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.”

The POPCOM official added that the updated NDHS validates the PSA’s findings last February that the Philippines is now in a “demographic transition,” characterized by a situation when a country has a low level of fertility and mortality, as well as the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Survey, or YAFS5, released a month ago.

He underscored that various sectoral developments should take advantage of this demographic opportunity to hasten socioeconomic development: “Focus should now be on ensuring that the quality and capacity of the country’s human resources are enhanced. At the household level, lower fertility also means greater opportunity for personal development of couples and individuals, which can redound to more savings and investments.”

Regarding implications on replacement fertility, POPCOM’s OIC-ED explained that there are more “pros” than “cons” at this time: “Economic gains from the demographic transition can be funneled to reduce poverty and improve labor force participation. The country will continue to see a robust labor force at over 63% of the population until 2030 or 2035, which is a full dozen years away.”

RPRH Law vital: Moving forward, Tacardon encouraged all relevant government institutions, allied sectors and relevant partners to continue implementing and upholding the RPRH Law and the national population and development program to sustain the gains it has achieved in the past years: “This demographic situation actually entails a more vigorous and enhanced implementation of relevant strategies to sustain the capacity of couples and individuals to achieve their desired fertility intentions.” 

POPCOM’s interim chief remarked that “however, we still have a lot of work before us, such as addressing present concerns on teenage pregnancies, where the numbers are still disturbing. We also need to double-up on our efforts in reducing fertility in rural areas, where the rates are still high.”

He was referring to the 2022 NDHS’s findings on teenage pregnancy and motherhood, as 5% of women 15- to 19-years old asked during the survey period said that "they have ever been pregnant." Among them, 10% came from the “poorest households.” 

Meanwhile, for family planning, 58% of married women 15- to 49-years old now use a particular method—higher than 2017’s 54%. Of the former, 41.8% said they use any modern method of contraception—up from 40.4% five years ago, while 16.5% still opt for traditional, more than the 13.9% half-a-decade ago. 

The pill is still the preferred choice of Filipino women, while there were more of those who underwent sterilization, or bilateral tubal ligation, since the last survey. (POPCOM)