October 10, 2003, The Philippine Star, RP Population Grows by 2.3%; 4 New Pinoys Born Every Minute,

October 10, 2003, The Philippine Star, RP Population Grows by 2.3%; 4 New Pinoys Born Every Minute,

MANILA, OCTOBER 10, 2003 (STAR) Four babies are born every minute in the Philippines, up sharply from a rate of three every minute in 2000, the Commission on Population said yesterday.

Tomas Osias, executive director of the commission, said in a statement that this amounted to an annual population growth rate of 2.36 percent.

The country already has a population of 82 million people, making it the 12th most populated country in the world, the commission said.

Controlling population growth is made more difficult because 20 percent of all Filipinos are aged between 15 and 24, the years of greatest fertility.

Critics complain that efforts to stem population growth in the Philippines have been hampered by the Roman Catholic Church, which counts 80 percent of all Filipinos as followers.

The Church does not allow the use of contraceptives and many government officials, including President Arroyo, a devout Catholic, are reluctant to support birth control campaigns.

Mrs. Arroyo defended the government’s position, saying that its population policy was based on free choice and family planning which reflected "Christian values."

"Even the Church has raised concern over this issue (population growth) and we need all sectors to join hands in meeting it," she said in a statement.

Opposition Sen. Rodolfo Biazon said a reproductive health care act, which would improve access to contraceptives, was making progress in the legislature.

The act, which has been attacked by Church groups, would remove the inconsistencies and limitations in current population programs, especially those restricting the range of family planning methods, Biazon said in a statement.

He warned that despite laws against abortion, there were 400,000 such operations performed illegally in the Philippines each year, indicating the huge number of unwanted pregnancies. – AFP, Sheila Crisostomo