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MANILA, PHILIPPINES - THE population of the Philippines reached 88.57 million at a census in August last year, up from 76.5 million in 2000, and the country's top economic planner said policies needed to be reviewed.
However, the government of the Roman Catholic nation is unlikely to switch to promoting artificial birth control, experts said.
The Philippines has one of the highest population growth rates in the region, with at least three babies born every minute. The growth dilutes economic gains and the country does not produce enough food to feed its people.
'The population is increasing and it means that government has to more vigorously implement its population policy, which is responsible parenthood and the advocacy for natural family planning,' said Economic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos told on Thursday. 'I think the population commission will have to review its policies,' he added. 'We really need greater efforts. It means we have to work harder to make the economy function more properly and more smoothly.'
At least one-third of the people are poor and the number of poor is growing faster than the population.
Last month, government data showed that 28 million people, about a third of the population, were subsisting on less than US$1 (S$1.35) per day in 2006, up 16 per cent from 2003.
But Mr Santos said artificial birth control remained a sensitive issue.
In a nod to the powerful Catholic church, the government emphasises natural family planning over artificial methods, and experts said there was not likely to be any change in this in the immediate future.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who came to power in 2001 with the backing of the church, has consistently emphasised natural family planning. Government booklets on responsible parenting make no mention of condoms, pills or intra-uterine devices.
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