Overpopulation is a growing problem in the Philippines that is caused by several interconnected issues. Early pregnancies contribute to overpopulation as teenagers have children early in life before being able to properly support and care for them, trapping families in a cycle of poverty. As a result, many families live in inadequate housing conditions like under bridges or on the street due to not having enough money. While poverty-stricken families with many children are often blamed, the government also needs to do more to properly educate and inform citizens so they can make responsible decisions that don't exacerbate overpopulation issues. Ultimately, overpopulation can be minimized if individuals exercise discipline and responsibility in family planning.

1. Charmaigne Rae S. Roco Bachelor In Medical Laboratory Science-2 [Sociology TTh 2:30-4:00]
We Can Minimize Overpopulation
Overpopulation is not merely the problem of our Government but also its constituents –
us, who lives in this place. Years have passed and technology has risen. Directly proportional to
it, population also increases. But whom should we blame?
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying
capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human
population and its environment. Because of the modernization and industrialization, we explore
things that are not allowed for us. Many problems regarding premarital sex, early pregnancies,
abortions, and the never ending issue of poverty. Long before technology reach its peak,
Filipinos live in a simple life. Girls are for household chores while Boys should be working for
the family. You can’t marry a girl instantly; you should impress her parents first and show them
that you’re responsible enough to have their daughter.
As a result of early pregnancies, many teenagers have to marry in their young age. In the
early stage of their life, they already experience how to raise a child and they contribute in our
population. Because of this, the family suffers poverty. They have no enough supply of food to
sustain their family. According to the 1987 constitution “The State recognizes the Filipino
family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively
promote its total development.” It is stated in our constitution that we should actively promote
its total development but because of such problems, we’re not able to develop our family.
Another concern of overpopulation is, children as young as 5 years old are now exposed to
things that are not properly for their age. It drives them to try it without knowing what the
effects are. Because of poverty, instead of studying in school children are now forced to work to
have money in order to live. Malnutrition is also a big problem in our country. We have no
enough money to buy nutritious foods that are needed by our body.
Not only we experience the shortage of food supply, we also experience space shortage.
One proof of this is the squatters where can be found anywhere here in the Philippines. Some
family stays under the bridge, beneath the shore or just in the road side. They put their lives at
risk just to have a “home” where they can stay.
It’s easy to point poverty-stricken families with counting number of children as the main
reason of overpopulation. But another question to be considered is, are they informed enough?
Then it will be followed by the question, is our Government trying their best to inform everyone?
Since the problem is there and it grew faster than the improvement of our country, their (the
Government) efforts are not enough. As individuals, we should be responsible enough for
ourselves. We should not hurry things because everything has its own perfect time. We should
not make permanent things in temporary feelings. As a teenager, a lot of vices are exposed to us
but in the end of the day, it is us who decides for ourselves. It’s our decision that makes us who
we are. It’s our choice and whatever may happen, we should take all the risks. We should
understand things deeper than we thought it is. In one word, we can control overpopulation. We
can minimize problems; we just have to have that DISCIPLINE.