BY JOEL P. MAPILES
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — With projection that the country will be home to 100 million Filipinos on July 27, the Commission on Population Region III will launch the search for the symbolic 100 millionth baby.
According to POPCOM Region III Director Eleanor M. Cura, the search is based on the projections of the 2010 National Census by the Philippine Statistics Authority that the country will reach its 100-million population on July 27, 2014 at exactly 12:06 am.
The search for the 100 millionth baby shall also be made an opportunity to highlight the significance of the Philippine Population Management Program (PPMP) in pursuing national and local development, added Dir. Cura.
“It is a call to make every child be born wanted and ensured of his/her basic needs, health, education, and other development concerns,” Dir. Cura said.
POPCOM Region III is set to launch the project in coordination with partners Department of Health, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the National Nutrition Council, Philippine Information Agency, and local government units.
POPCOM Region III and DOH through regional and local health officers shall identify through its local population offices qualified infants from all seven provinces within the region and the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. A total of eight newborn infants shall be declared the symbolic 100 millionth babies of their respective localities.
To qualify, babies must be born on July 27, 2014 at12:06 am (Philippine Standard Time), or seconds/minutes later, certified by the attending birth attendant or doctor. The baby must also be born through normal spontaneous delivery in a government-runhealth facility.
POPCOM Region III, together with its partner agencies will award a P5,000.00-worth Starter Kit of infant items and supplies excludingformula milk, feeding bottles and disposable diapers, among other forms of assistance to the baby’s parents.
POPCOM Region III along with its partner agencies shall also track the development stages of the symbolic babies to be highlighted during future Population and Development activities.
Based on the 2010 Census, the Philippines, from 2000 to 2010, has an average Population Growth Rate (PGR) of 1.90%, while Central Luzon has a PGR of 2.14%. The same study also puts Region III as the third highest region based on population size.
