THE National Statistics Office yesterday said the population growth
rate of
2.36 percent could be considered as "explosive" for a small country
like the
Philippines.
This growth rate during the period from 1995 to 2000 was based on the
last
population census in 2000 which placed the population at 76.5 million
as of
May 1, 2000.
According to the NSO projection based on the 2000 census, the
population
will grow to 88.7 million this year.
The NSO made the statement at the launching of the population census to
be
undertaken in August.
The 2007 census is targeted for release in February next year.
NSO administrator Carmelita Ericta said if the 2007 census report will
show
the same growth rate, "the government needs to step up efforts to
support
the population."
Dr. Socorro Abejo, officer-in-charge of NSO's Household Statistics
Department, said that based on a "demographic point of view," the
support
given by the government cannot cope with population growth.
"If the government's ability to support the population does not cope
with
population growth, the economic conditions of the families will be
affected," she said.
She noted that neighboring countries like Singapore, Japan, Malaysia,
and
Thailand have "much lower population growth rates," or below 2 percent.
With a budget of P1.6 billion, this year's census will involve 37,000
NSO-trained census takers, more than 7,000 team supervisors and almost
2,000
census area supervisors.
Ericta said the census includes not just demographic characteristics
but
also data on socio-economic conditions like education and occupation of
residents, on housing and even temporary relocation sites, and on
barangays.
She said data gathering will be done through interviews or
self-administered
questionnaires.
Ericta said updated information on the size of the population will give
government planners, policy makers and administrator data on which to
base
their social and economic development plans and programs.
She said it also serves as for basis for Internal Revenue Allotment for
the
local government units; apportionment of congressional seats for the
legislative branch; creation of new LGUs; and upgrading of an LGU.
It is also being used by businesses and industries in feasibility
studies
for existing and planned products and services.
