The Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) cited recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority saying that the percentage of Filipino elderly in the population has expanded in the last two decades, rising significantly to 8.5 percent in 2020 from 5.9 percent in 2000.
Popcom said the number of so-called senior citizens, or Filipinos age 60 and above, doubled to 9.2 million in 2020 from 4.5 million 20 years ago.
“The number of seniors is on the rise due to better health and socioeconomic conditions. Seniors are better educated and have healthier lifestyles,” it said in a statement.
On the other hand, the percentage of Filipino children in the population has declined “significantly.” So-called young dependents, or those under 15 years old, was down to 30.7 percent of the population from 37 percent in 2000. Children under 5 years old now make up 10.2 percent of the population in 2020 from 12.6 percent in 2000.
It would seem that the number of young Filipinos are trending lower while the elderly are expanding. The good news is that Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III says the country currently has “relatively large numbers” of children between 5 and 14 years old who will gradually join the workforce up to 2035.
While the increased longevity and improve health at older ages is considered an achievement, it also presents some challenges for governments. First of all, government has to provide adequate resources for older adults. Another problem is the lack of pension, as 55 percent of the country’s senior citizens were found to have no pension in a 2019 survey. The phenomenon of rapid aging before sufficient economic development can raise economic and social challenges, particularly in terms of sluggish economic growth and fiscal sustainability, a decline in tax revenues, increase in expenditure, along with the lack of an adequate welfare system.
Government needs to make the necessary adjustments to this shift in the makeup of the country’s population. Finding the ways, means and resources to provide the necessary support for a growing elderly sector while building up the younger generation will be a tricky balancing act that our leaders must get right.*
