Some two decades ago, the government’s economic managers expressed concern over the rapid increase in population in the country that put pressure on its education and health infrastructures.
To slow down that growth, Congress—over strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church—enacted the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Act of 2012 that, among others, guarantees universal access to medically safe contraceptives and orders local government units to provide free family services and commodities to marginalized sectors.
Fast forward to 2025. Last week, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said the fertility rate in the country has gone down to 1.7 children per woman in 2025 from 1.9 in 2022 and has been continuously in decline since 1993.
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Those figures don’t jibe with what economic and population experts consider as the ideal fertility rate to maintain a stable population: 2.1 children per woman, which roughly represents replacement for parents and children who pass away early due to various reasons.FEATURED STORIES
