Philippine population to reach 97.6 M

The Philippines' population is projected to increase to hit 97.6 million in 2012, the Commission on Population said on Saturday.

“By 2014, the population may increase to 101.2 million,” executive director Tomas Osias said.

There are currently an estimated 95.8 million people in the Philippines, making it the 12th most-populous country in the world.

Osias said about 1.7 million babies are born annually in the Philippines, representing a population growth rate of 2.04 percent.

He said the rate, among the highest in Asia, could go down if a proposed reproductive health law were approved by Congress.

But the bill is opposed strongly by the Catholic Church, which alleges that it would legalize abortion.

Proponents said the bill would make condoms and contraceptives available to the poor, and provide educational programs to inform all couples of the full range of family planning options.

The law would also provide for some sex education for pre-teens, a particularly contentious issue for the Church, but an initiative welcomed by development groups.

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