The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has outlined the advantages and disadvantages of a growing population in the Negros Island Region (NIR).

With 4.9 million Filipinos in NIR as of 2024, per the latest data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), CPD-NIR Assistant Regional Director-designate Jonathan Dioteles said the current population of the region offers both economic and social benefits.

According to Dioteles, a growing population equates to an increased labor supply, stimulates the economy, and drives regional economic development, as it creates a potential market that would allow businesses to produce more goods and services.

He noted that an overall framework promoting the population’s development is necessary if high productivity, economic growth and improved quality of life were to be achieved.

“With more manageable population growth, investments in human development can focus on improving the quality of services, ensuring that the country’s human resources are healthy, educated and skilled in participating and contributing to socioeconomic development,” Dioteles pointed out in a press conference.

However, a large population poses serious challenges if not managed well, especially when employment and economic opportunities cannot accommodate the working-age population.

CPD reiterates that any segment of the population would fail to spur productivity should social inequality and inaccessibility to equal opportunities prevail; under such circumstances, the public may experience pressure on basic services, including healthcare, education, housing, and transportation.

A large population also adversely affects the environment through pollution, increased waste, and deforestation to pave the way for residential, industrial, and economic activities.

Here lies the critical importance of population data which data scientists, planners, policy makers, and other stakeholders can use to craft strategies, design plans and programs, and formulate policies that ensure sustainable and inclusive regional and national development.

With this, the CPD calls on all stakeholders to integrate population data in development plans and initiatives to ensure adequate and responsive delivery of public services to the entire NIR population.

“With more productive and quality human resources, the country will not only be able to accelerate socioeconomic development but also improve its capacity to foster active and healthy aging through longer and healthier lifespans and more independent and productive older persons,” Dioteles stressed. (PIA-Negros Occidental)