By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

The world’s population increases by 78 million annually, where 95 percent of the said increase live in less developed countries, according to the United Nations Population Data Division.

The said agency added that the world population was five billion in 1987, will be seven billion in 2013, and projected eight billion in 2028. Eighty percent of the world’s population reside in the less developed countries, the body clarified.

The said agency also identified the top 10 countries that contribute to the increase of population worldwide. They are the following: India (20.6%); China (14.7%); Pakistan (5.2%); Indonesia (3.8%); Nigeria (3.2%); USA (2.9%); Brazil (2.8%); Bangladesh (2.7%); Mexico (2%); and, Philippines (2%). From these data, only the USA, which is the top 5 contributor to population, belongs to the first world countries. The data substantiated the fact that the concentrations of the populations are in the poor regions of the world particularly, the Asia region.

With the fast growing population worldwide, there is the belief that the world’s resources cannot sustain the population now pegged at seven billion. Known as Marxian Theory among social scientists, Karl Marx claims that the problem is not primarily the population.

Marx cleared that it is the ownership of the means of production by few people or the exploitative class and the unequitable distribution of society’s wealth. The vast tracks of resources are concentrated in the hands of the few while the majority population has no control nor say on the resources.

In the Philippine setting, there is also the belief that the rich resources of the country are concentrated in the hands of a few. According to the Marxian Theory, even if we will have a dramatic increase of population – as we have 92 to 96 million, it can be sustained by the country’sfs wealth, provided that these resources are shared to the people.

Interestingly, one of the legislations being introduced in Congress in relation to population management is the Bill on Reproductive Health. The bill is becoming controversial as it is being opposed by the Roman Catholic Church. The said church is against the use of artificial contraceptives.

The bill particularly promotes information on and access to both natural and modern family planning methods that are allegedly considered medically safe.

The bill also covers the maternal, infant and child health and nutrition; promotion of breast feeding; prevention of abortion and management of post abortion complication; adolescent and youth health; prevention and management of reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers; prevention and treatment of infertility; elimination of violence against women; the reproductive health education for the youth; and, male involvement and participation in reproductive health.

The bill also proposed for an ideal number of two children. Such however is not compulsory and in fact no sanctions for those that will exceed the proposed two children.

It is therefore still the decision of the spouses what family planning methods or number of children they decide to have; as the main contents of the bill is for the exercise of the freedom of informed choice on the methods or number of children that may be based on their needs, personal convictions and religious beliefs.

The bill is controversial to the Roman Catholics, the bill is now rusting in the legislative mill. # nordis.net