BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO – The world’s population reached eight billion on Nov. 15, according to United Nations (UN) estimates.
In Iloilo province, five babies born on Tuesday at the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Santa Barbara town were deemed as representations of the eight billionth person in the world.
According to the hospital’s chief nurse, Ma. Eloisa Penado, of the five newborn babies, three were “clean cases” (COVID-19 negative) while the two others were “septic cases” (COVID-19 positive).
Meanwhile, Penado revealed that Western Visayas Sanitarium has a daily average of 10 to 15 newborn babies.
The number of mothers giving birth, particularly during the “ber” months, is also increasing and this is a yearly trend that stretches to March, she added.
According to the Commission on Population and Development, the Philippines’ population is growing slower with a 1.9 fertility rate in 2022; it means a mother gives birth to less than two babies, compared to the 2.7 fertility rate in 2017.
The lower fertility rate is attributed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the growing knowledge of Filipinos about family planning./PN
