MikeLigalig.com

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/
Saturday, July 26, 2014


MANILA -- The Philippines is set to welcome early morning Sunday its 100 millionth citizen.

Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III, Commission on Population (Popcom) Executive director, said the country's population is expected to hit 100 million on July 27 at 12:06 a.m. given the present rate of about three babies being born every minute.

"These babies will usher symbolic hope for better quality of life as they epitomize the challenge to make every Filipino count in the country's development," said Perez.

The country is presently the 12th most populous country in the world while only ranked 71st in terms of land area.

And as part of the government celebration of the milestone, Perez said all local government units (LGUs) will come up with a list of 100 babies born at 12:06 a.m. or seconds/minutes later.

He said the babies must be born in a government-licensed health facility, at a time certified in observance of the Philippine Standard Time (PST), and certified by the attending birth attendant/doctor.

Perez also said only babies born through normal spontaneous delivery are qualified to vie for the recognition and that the parents should also be residents of the provinces in the region.

"The LGUs will ensure that these symbolic babies will have all the population development support and services they need--that they go to school, they are healthy, they have livelihood opportunity, etc," the official noted.

"If they get all these, then it means that the other people in that LGU are getting the same support and services, it also means that the government is doing a good job," added Perez.

The "symbolic babies" and their families are set to receive starter kits worth P5,000 each, said Popcom. (HDT/Sunnex)

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