The document discusses the debate around population growth and poverty in the Philippines. While some argue population growth is the main cause of poverty, others argue it is more complex and factors like governance, inequality, and economic growth are more responsible. The document also examines the need for population policy to address issues like a youthful population structure and the challenges of quickly reducing birth rates. It outlines the Reproductive Health Bill which aims to provide universal access to family planning and reproductive healthcare, and discusses some controversies and ambiguities around the bill.

1. Maria Cristina B. Daligcon Poverty, Population Growth and the Reproductive Health Bill

2. Is Population Growth the Real Culprit? On one extreme, there are those who say that there is no population problem and hence, there is nothing the government needs to do about it. >> On the other hand, some view population growth as the principal cause of poverty

4. Is Population Growth the Real Culprit? Poverty is a complex phenomenon, and many factors are responsible for it such as: >> 1. Bad governance 2. High wealth and income inequality 3. Weak economic growth

6. Gini Concentration Ratios by Region: 2003 and 2006 =============================================== Region | 2006 | 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------- Philippines 0.4580 0.4605 National Capital Region 0.3988 0.4021 Cordillera Administrative Region 0.4418 0.4296 I - Ilocos 0.3953 0.3926 II - Cagayan Valley 0.4216 0.4410 III - Central Luzon 0.3994 0.3515 IVA - CALABARZON 0.4082 0.4036 IVB - MIMAROPA 0.4106 0.4358 V - Bicol 0.4428 0.4660 VI - Western Visayas 0.4326 0.4370 VII - Central Visayas 0.4639 0.4707 VIII - Eastern Visayas 0.4828 0.4580 IX - Zamboanga Peninsula 0.5054 0.5197 X - Northern Mindanao 0.4806 0.4817 XI - Davao 0.4225 0.4574 XII - SOCCSKSARGEN 0.4006 0.4774 XIII - Caraga 0.4452 0.4303 Autonomous Region 0.3113 0.3578 in Muslim Mindanao ------------------------------------------------------------ Source: 2003 and 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey National Statistics Office Republic of the Philippines Gini Coefficients are aggregate inequality measures 0 = perfect equality 1 = prefect inequality 0.50-0.70 = highly unequal income distribution 0.36-0.49 =relatively unequal income distribution 0.20-0.35 =relatively equal income distribution

8. Why the Need for Population Policy? >> Population Momentum Population growing rapidly in the past is likely to grow rapidly in the future.

10. Population Pyramids: Ethiopia and the United States, 2005 >>

11. Youth Dependency Ratio The proportion of youths (under age 15) to economically active adults (ages 15 to 64). IMPLICATION: The more rapid the population growth rate, the greater the proportion of dependent children in the total population and the more difficult it is for people who are working to support who are not >>

15. The Demographic Transition Stage I: High birthrates and death rates Stage II: Continued high birthrates, declining death rates Stage III: Falling birthrates and death rates, eventually stabilizing >>

16. The Demographic Transition in Western Europe >>

17. The Reproductive Health Bill (HB #5043) OBJECTIVE/S: 1. To uphold and promote respect for life, informed choice, birth spacing and responsible parenthood in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards. 2. To guarantee universal access to medically-safe, legal and quality reproductive health care services and relevant information even as it prioritizes the needs of women and children. >>

19. The Reproductive Health Bill (HB #5043) Coverage of RH. (7) Elimination of violence against women (8) Counseling on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health (9) Treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers (10) Male involvement and participation in RH; (11) Prevention and treatment of infertility and (12) RH education for the youth. >>

25. The Reproductive Health Bill (HB #5043) Some Ambiguities in the RH Bill 3. If Reproductive health and sex education in public schools should be compulsory, at what grade level should it start? 4. The notion of two children being the ideal family size (section 16 of RH Bill) may be difficult to defend. >>

26. The Reproductive Health Bill (HB #5043) Synthesis: A sound population policy must be part of good governance to promote faster economic growth and reduce poverty. A well-funded national family planning programs that provide accurate information and access to all methods of contraception, is pro-poor, pro-women, pro-people and pro-life. >>

27. Salus Populi Suprema Lex – The Welfare of the People is the supreme law >>

28. Thank You! >>