Philippines marks World Population Day

The Philippines joined World Population Day on July11, with its theme, “25 Years of the ICPD,” looking back at the country’s gains and challenges since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt.

In 1994, Filipinos made up 1.21 percent of the world population. 25 years after, it increased to 1.40 percent.  With some 108 million people, the Philippines is now the 13th most populous country in the world. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that the country’s population continues to increase in numbers, approximately three babies born per minute, but the rate of growth has declined to 1.76% annually since the 2015 population census. Under this growth rate, the country’s population is expected to double in the next 39 years.

Twenty-five years after ICPD, the country still needs to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including on gender-based violence. While significant strides have been made, particularly in the area of civil rights as girls acquire more education and enter the workforce, they continue to face challenges in the private sphere of their homes, where their decisions and actions are often questioned and sometimes met with coercion and violence. These are the stark inequalities that hold back women in realizing their full potential.

The ICPD in Cairo, Egypt, set forth a Program of Action signed by 179 countries, embarking on a long and difficult journey to reproductive health, including voluntary family planning and safe pregnancy; women empowerment and gender equality.

“UNFPA congratulates the Philippine government in its achievements and commitment to fulfill the promise of the ICPD Agenda,” said Iori Kato, UNFPA representative in the Philippines.

“We look forward to the government renewing its commitment at the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25: Accelerating the promise, a high-level conference organized on Nov. 12-14, 2019 to finish the unfinished agenda of the full implementation of the ICPD Program of Action as an integral way for sustainable development,” he added.

POPCOM and UNFPA are proud to have been part of the 25 fruitful years of the ICPD, taking on extra significance this year when both agencies mark their 50th founding anniversary. Usec. Perez asserted, “We are only on the halfway point of our own journey. We must persevere to empower millions more Filipino families.” – Commission on Population and Development