Background on the Philippines

   The May 2000 Population Census put the Philippines’ total population at 75.33 million, an increase of 6.7 million from 1995. The country’s annual population growth rate from 1995 to 2000 was 2.02 per cent per year, down from 2.32 per cent during the period 1990-95.

   The gains achieved in the demographic front, however, have made no significant improvement in the quality of life of the average Filipino. The country’s economy continues to suffer from the combined effects of a falling peso, spiraling oil prices, armed conflict in Mindanao and a gripping political crisis spawned by charges of graft and corruption which led to President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial and resignation.

   The Government is determined to reduce infant mortality rates from 35 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2004. Similarly, over the same period of time, maternal mortality rates are expected to drop from 172 per 100,000 live births (2000) to 86 deaths per 100,000 live births. Although 83 per cent of pregnant women receive pre-natal care, only 53 per cent of all births are attended by trained health personnel.

   At the same time, the Philippine Government aims to reduce the total fertility rate from the current high of 3.7 children per woman to 2.1 (replacement level fertility) by 2005. The overly ambitious goal could be achieved if contraceptive prevalence rates jumped from 46 per cent today to 60 per cent within five years. These targets are unlikely to be met, given the fact that most contraceptive supplies are provided by UNFPA and other donor agencies – not the Government -- and many rural areas offer few reproductive health or family planning services. Most quality reproductive health services are provided by NGOs, not government clinics, because of intense opposition from the Catholic Church and budgetary constraints.

   The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is low, infecting only 0.1 per cent of both men and women. A nation-wide information and prevention campaign was launched in the early 1990s when the pandemic was first noticed in sex trade workers.


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