ILOILO City – Western Visayas’ population is estimated to reach 8,003,581 by Dec. 31, 2021.
This population estimate is based on geometric-method projections using the last population census in 2015 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Despite the rise in the absolute number, population growth rate (PGR) is slowly declining at 0.94 compared to the previous years. The population projects an increase of 467,198 based on the 2015 Census of Population and Housing at 7,536,383.
Among population age groups, there is a notable increase among working age group (15-64 years old) from 4,746,077 to 5,123,979.
Broken down by sex, there will be 2,619,677 males and 2,476,847 females.
This demographic scenario would pose a challenge for the labor sector to offer more job opportunities especially in this time of coronavirus pandemic.
“In the context of the Demographic Dividend, having a huge working age population may be considered an opportunity for the country to develop in terms of economic growth. However, this cannot be achieved if one effective worker is supporting three effective consumers,” said Regional Director Harold Alfred P. Marshall of the Commission on Population (POPCOM) Region 6.
For his part, POPCOM executive director, Undersecretary Juan Antonio Perez III said, “There is a need to ensure that members of the labor force are healthy, educated, skilled and gainfully employed.”
Meanwhile, young dependents (0-14 years old) will consist 29 percent of the population or 2,304,225 while older population (60 years and over) will reach 854,325 or 11 percent of the population.
“This tells us to also focus on this sector of the population, their special needs and other vulnerabilities,” said Marshall.
Women of reproductive age (WRA) 15-49 years old will also increase from 1,849,430 to 1,984,589. This requires robust reproductive health information and services to prevent unplanned pregnancies as it is expected to rise due to the accelerating effect of the pandemic.
If women cannot access family planning services because of limited mobility due to quarantine protocols, we can expect increase in pregnancies if the estimated 265,935 women with unmet need on modern FP fail to access services,” said Marshall.
On the other hand, adolescents (10-19 years old) age group had a slight decline from 1,515,396 in 2015 to 1,499,624 this year. There will be more boys at 772,574 and 729,192 girls. Despite the low figures, unintended pregnancies from this age group is also seen to increase still because of the impact of the pandemic.
“We will double our efforts in terms of teen pregnancy reduction strategies under Adolescent Health and Development (AHD) Program,” said Marshall.
Among the region’s six provinces, Negros Occidental (including Bacolod City) is highest in population and is projected to reach 3,204,431, followed by Iloilo Province (including Iloilo City) at 2,560,686; Capiz, 816,417; Antique, 620,472; Aklan, 613,648; and Guimaras, 187,936.
“We still have a lot of work ahead of us with regard to population management and family planning,” Perez said. “It would still take a comprehensive approach that links government efforts to non-government organizations and the private sectors-one that allows population programs like family planning to reach every community in all 42,046 barangays nationwide. We also enjoin our countrymen to do their part, as their decisions on family planning will affect our communities.”
The Philippine population is projected to reach 110.8 million by end of December 2021. (POPCOM-6/PN)
