Quiet Hush of Empty Cradles

By HANNAH REGAYA

THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT from the Philippine Statistics Authority regarding the country’s declining birth rate as a significant development elicited a shocking response among a wide spectrum of individuals.

The data shows a decrease in the number of children born to mothers aged 15 to 49, dropping from 2.7 children in 2017 to 1.9 children this year. While this trend may seem alarming to some, it actually has several implications for the country.

According to Undersecretary for Population and Development Juan Antonio Perez III, “It is clear Filipino women are deciding to delay having children, and families are deferring, or avoiding, having more kids, as they were made well aware of the possible hardships and inconveniences in securing medical, as well as family planning services since the