QUEZON CITY -- The global population is projected to reach eight billion on 15 November 2022, according to the World Population Prospects 2022 released on Monday by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 

Latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.4 billion in 2100. More than half of the estimated increase in global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in just eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Philippines.

Many groups may meet this announcement with alarmism: fears that the world is on the verge of a disastrous overpopulation that may result in extreme poverty, conflict, or adverse environmental impacts. However, UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, calls on countries to expand their perspective beyond the numbers.

UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem emphasized:  “Focusing exclusively on population totals and growth rates misses the point, and often leads to coercive and counter-productive measures and the erosion of human rights. In fact, people are the solution, not the problem. Experience shows that investing in people, in their rights and choices, is the path to peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies.”

UNFPA in the Philippines, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) and the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) invited key government agencies and international development aid organizations to discuss pursuing people-centered population policies with sexual and reproductive health and rights at their core in line with the report and the commemoration of World Population Day (WPD) 2022. 

With the global theme: “A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future,” WPD 2022 focuses on harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all. It is translated locally to: “110 Milyong Solusyon Tungo sa Pagkamit ng Potensyal ng bawat Pilipino (110 Million Solutions: Reaching the Potential of Every Filipino).”

“What equally matters is how we ensure that everyone that today’s 110 million Filipinos can realize their full potential and human rights,” said Dr. Leila Sajii Joudane, UNFPA Country Representative in the Philippines. “We must give everyone the capacity and space to make informed and responsible decisions, provide opportunities to choose and exercise their human rights—including sexual and reproductive health, and enable access to quality education and equal chance for economic opportunities.”

For POPCOM, young Filipinos who comprise about 20% of the Philippine population and women will play a crucial part in the attainment of the country’s much-aspired demographic dividend in the near future, as they will belong to a vital segment of the local workforce and employment, as well as contribute to national economic gains.

“The role of young people and women in national progress cannot be overemphasized. They make up a large human resource, whose participation as effective workers will serve as drivers for the country’s further economic growth in the coming years, while we march toward the fulfillment of Ambisyon 2040 built on this administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda,” pointed out Undersecretary for Population and Development (POPDEV) Juan Antonio Perez III, MD, MPH. “I anticipate the new administration to build on the current gains of our population programs and agenda, while fully harnessing the potential of our young people and women by heavily investing in their education and professional upskilling.”

The enactment and full implementation of laws and policies are also key to addressing development challenges and the empowerment of young people. In the country, the PLCPD works with multiple stakeholders, most notably legislators from the Senate and House of Representatives, in championing advocacies and advancing laws relevant to population and human development. Significantly, these include the issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights, prevention of adolescent pregnancies, and prevention of violence against women and girls. Legislators, the committee said, have an important role in addressing demographic challenges and contributing to the empowerment of Filipinos, especially women, girls, and marginalized groups.

“Legislators have remarkably contributed to helping our country harness demographic dividend and attain our goals by advancing and legislating notable laws that have a positive impact on the empowerment of the Philippine population of 110-plus million people, with the hopes of tapping their potential to be instrumental towards the nation’s development,” stated Representative Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon Party List in her message of support during the 2022 WPD meeting. “In particular, the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill, and to prepare a future with ‘No More Children Having Children,’ will be a high priority and commitment of myself and fellow legislators.” (POPCOM)