Bacolod council urges data-driven population control plan

BACOLOD CITY — The Bacolod City Council is urging the City Population Office (POPCOM) to craft and implement data-driven population control programs and strategies.

Councilor Caesar Distrito said the move aims to address growing concerns over population growth and the alarming rise in teenage and unplanned pregnancies.

Distrito said the Sangguniang Panlungsod recently passed a resolution calling on POPCOM and the City Health Office (CHO), through the Office of Mayor Greg Gasataya, to lead the initiative.

He emphasized the increasing strain on public resources as the city’s population continues to grow.

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Distrito said the national population reached over 112 million as of July 2024 — an increase of nearly 3.7 million since 2020.

The resolution stressed that even modest population growth places added pressure on health care, education, infrastructure, and social services.

Distrito noted that teenage pregnancies and unplanned parenthood disproportionately impact low-income families, often resulting in school dropouts, poor maternal and child health outcomes, and intergenerational poverty.

“We must act now,” he said.

“Curbing teenage and unplanned pregnancies is not just a health issue — it is an economic and social imperative.”

He added that investing in reproductive health education and responsible parenthood would empower communities and help preserve the city government’s limited resources.

The resolution calls for comprehensive and sustained programs focused on adolescent health education, community outreach, and reproductive health services.

It advocates a multi-sectoral approach guided by data, compassion, and urgency.

Distrito said the council hopes the initiative will lead to stronger families, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future for Bacolod City.