Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 30) – Providing more jobs and stopping corruption in government will ease problems arising from the country’s growing population, three senatorial aspirants said in the CNN Philippines’ Senatorial Forum on Sunday.
Former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said the country is very rich in resources and can handle the needs of every Filipino, but corruption is hindering the nation’s progress amid a growing population.
“Ang bansa natin, napakayaman. Kahit lumaki ang population natin, kaya naman. Basta tama ang pamamahala ng gobyerno [Our country is very rich. Even if our population grows, it can meet our needs. This can happen with the right government policies and actions],” said Colmenares.
Colmenares added there should be an equitable distribution of income and wealth among Filipinos and the government must prioritize creating local industries to lessen the impact of problems arising from a growing population.
“Sabihin nila na ang ating gutom at kahirapan ay dahil sa population, I really disagree with that because kayang-kaya nating pakainin ang ating populasyon kung maayos ang pamamahala ng ating gobyerno [They say hunger and poverty are due to our population, I really disagree with that because we are capable of feeding our own population with the right government leadership],” Colmenares said.
Lawyer Chel Diokno said the government and private sector should help each other to provide more jobs to Filipinos to harness the potential of the majority of the country’s population.
Diokno cited government data that 64% of Filipino citizens are in the workforce, or those aged 15 to 64 years old.
“We also have to make sure the present population, especially those in working age, are provided with enough jobs para hindi sila maging [so that they will not be] dependent and they will be productive members of our society,” said Diokno.
The lawyer said family planning and other related social services must be ramped up to educate Filipinos on the importance of reproductive health.
Mindanao civic leader Samira Gutoc agreed with Diokno in providing more awareness platforms on reproductive health, especially to the marginalized.
“Reproductive health is important because it connects our decisions to our families, to our population, and to our couplehood,” said Gutoc.
The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) recently reported the country logged its lowest population growth in 75 years in 2020 as more Filipino couples chose not to have children due to uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The country also recorded its sharpest decrease in births among women aged below 20 years old in 17 years, also in 2020, according to POPCOM.
