Katrina Nicole Patawaran Ingco
Quezon City, Philippines
30 August 2006

Some people believe that population control leads to higher per capita income and therefore economic prosperity. This is a myth. I believe that for Filipinos to attain true economic success, it is more important that wealth be distributed more equitably.

To limit the number of people is like saying that a newborn baby is a pollutant. I disagree with limiting the birth of God’s creation. We must respect human freedom. We must not coerce stopping population growth. I believe that adolescents and married couples should be educated about reproductive health, so that they will be informed and make better decisions for their future.

There is a belief that overpopulation leads to a higher incidence of poverty. Poverty is admittedly a monumental problem in the country today. Poverty gnaws at the Filipinos’ stomach, removes the luster in their eyes, and dims their hope for the future. Doctors taking up nursing, long lines for visas, and that elusive dream of getting the overseas job in Japan and Bahrain—do we deserve this?

What the poor want is to have better lives, be able to send their children to school, have better jobs, and be able to put food on the table. Many poor families tend to have more children because they want extra hands to help out in the farm work to get them out of poverty. There should be more job opportunities and education for all Filipinos. This way, Filipinos will be able to provide for their families and contribute to the country’s economic development.

Another major challenge is overcrowded cities. The population in our country is not distributed equally. Most of the people are in Metro Manila, which is why it is overcrowded and congested. The best thing to do is to attract investments in other provinces so that not everyone would have to go to Metro Manila to work or study.

If poverty is the problem, then it should not be solved by population control. The government’s population program needs to go hand-in-hand with the redistribution of wealth. The country’s wealth should not always be concentrated on the upper class or elite.

How can we achieve economic prosperity? Quite simply. Through good governance. By not camouflaging the real problems of our country through population control. Through the eradication of corruption so that taxpayers’ money will be used honestly and for the public good. By voting wisely, choosing good leaders, and appointing qualified people in government so that correct policies are made and implemented. By allocating the economic resources properly. Do we need Superman for this?

Who knows? The person who could have not been born because of population control might have been you.

Brando Garcia
30 August 2006

This is an absolute, wonderful piece of article about elderly people, Miss Eva. Thank you for this one. I wish you could write more about Bai Metring and other elderly people if you can.