Tag Archives: population

As Philippines’ Population Grows, So Does Its Land Mass

February 12, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Photo: Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, Northern Luzon. — Photo: Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, Northern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Filipinos learn in school that their country is composed of 7,101 islands (at low tide). Now, geography books may have to be revised.

The Philippines’ population is fast increasing, reaching over 100 Million as of the latest population census. But not to worry, its land mass is also increasing!

The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority discovered 400 more islets in a series of mapping research.

Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje made this remark in his speech at the ongoing Philippine Environment Summit at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday. Paje told summit participants the country is now officially composed of 7,500 islands as he reported on the state of the Philippine environment.

The National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria) confirmed that using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (IfSAR), the agency was able to “discover” more than 400 previously “unknown” islands in various parts of the country.

An attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Namria is mandated to provide the public with mapmaking services, and to act as the central mapping agency, depository and distribution facility for natural resources data in the form of maps, charts, texts and statistics.

Now if only Filipinos stop congregating in overcrowded Metro Manila and other urban centers, and move to one of these oftentimes uninhabited islands, it would solve many of the country’s social and economic problems.

And they need to do it quickly before the big corporations start developing these islands into expensive resorts for tourists.

So while China illegally ‘creates’ artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea territories, the Philippines just does it very casually with the help of Mother Nature. And mapping services.

International

SOUTH KOREANS COULD FACE NATURAL EXTINCTION BY 2750; BY THEN, FILIPINOS WILL BE LIVING ON WATER

June 19, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

SEOUL, South Korea (The Adobo Chronicles®) – A 2014 study commissioned by the national legislature concluded that South Koreans could face natural extinction by the year 2750, if the birthrate were maintained at 1.19 children per woman.

Not only is the South Korean population aging (like in Japan and the US), but birthrates are also falling and women are increasingly less inclined to get married.

In 2013, the country’s birth rate plummeted to the lowest level on record: Only 8.6 babies per 1,000 South Koreans were born, and the total number of births fell by 9.9% to the second-lowest number on record.

Furthermore, a government survey of respondents aged 9 to 24 showed that only 45.6% of women “said marriage was something they should do in life,” considerably lower than the 62.9% of men.

Overall, the average South Korean woman is expected to give birth to 1.187 babies in her lifetime — the fifth lowest fertility in the world.

In contrast, neighboring country Philippines, with a current population of 100 Million (twice that of South Korea), has a birthrate of 24.4 babies per 1,000 Filipinos.

One of Metro Manila's cities, Pasig, from the air — One of Metro Manila’s cities, Pasig, from the air

Unless the Philippine government comes up with a solid plan to control population growth, there will not be enough land space to accommodate all Filipinos by the year 2750.

But controlling population is almost out of the question in this predominantly Catholic country, where church officials even encourage Filipinos to make more babies so that the Philippines will have enough workers in call centers as more foreign investors increasingly outsource their manpower requirements.

Urban areas like Metro Manila will be packed like sardines and the population will have to disperse to the rural areas.

Still, that would not be enough to house all Filipinos.

The only option is to build house boats and a good percentage of Filipinos will be living on water — which is plenty in this nation of 7,100 islands.

This dire prediction could only emphasize the need for the Philippines to aggressively defend its claim over islands and waters in the South China Sea — a hotbed of territorial conflict between China and the Philippines, along with other Southeast Asian nations.

Human Interest, International

100 MILLIONTH FILIPINO HAS BEEN BORN, LAWSUITS POUR IN

July 27, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – At 12:35 a.m., July 17, baby Chonalyn (some media outlets spelled it as ‘Jennalyn’) was born at a local hospital in Manila, making her the 100 Millionth Filipino.

But there is a big problem. Ninety nine other babies were born at exactly the same time at other hospitals and homes all over the country, and all parents want to claim the historic, official title for their newly-borns.

As a result, the parents have hired personal attorneys and are suing the Commision on Population (POPCOM) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to lay claim to the much-sought after title.

According to one lawsuit, “the title of 100 Millionth Filipino comes not only with honor and prestige, but the promise of popularity and wealth for the child.” Given what’s stake in the official title, the lawsuits may take months or even years to resolve and may eventually find their way to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, baby Chonalyn received a prize of 5,000 pesos worth of in-kind goods. The cost to her parents for the hospital delivery: 30,000 pesos. Had it been through C-section, it would have cost them twice as much.

It’s always more fun in the Philippines!