1) The document reviews population trends, poverty, and their links in the Philippines compared to other Southeast Asian countries. 2) While the Philippines has experienced modest declines in poverty, the number of poor has increased due to rapid population growth. Large family sizes also negatively impact investments in education and health. 3) Better fertility control and economic growth are needed to alleviate poverty in the Philippines, though interventions must consider poor households' preferences and ability to freely choose family size. More research is still needed to fully understand these complex relationships in the Philippine context.