1

Bicol University
Graduate School
Legazpi City

1.1 What are the demographic processes?

The demographic processes are a. Mortality, b. Fertility, and c. Migration.

A. Mortality – refers to the rate of death. It is influenced by biological, social, political, and economic
components. Mortality is high during the times that healthcare and vaccinations are not available to
people, e.g. the black death and the industrial revolution. Prevention to mortality happens during the age
of enlightenment when intellectuals like Pasteur developed the germ theory. Death rate is prevented
when there is an abundance income, and good health system. WHO considered three factors of death
worldwide namely a. communicable diseases, b. noncommunicable diseases, and c. injuries. Tobacco-
related diseases refers as the ’real’ cause of death in USA alone. Mortality is high in men. That means
women live longer. Death is measured by crude death rate, the age-specific death rate, and life
expectancy.1

B. Fertility – refers to the actual performance of men

and women to reproduce. It is both a biological and social
component. High fertility rates are seen higher to poorer
countries rather than the richer ones. It is believed that
high fertility is a result of lower of mortality rate.
Government intervention and migration from less
populous countries that influence people affects the
limitation and regularization of fertility.2

Chart extracted from: Population: An Introduction to Concepts,

p 244

C. Migration – refers to the permanent movement of

people out of their residence. People move in because
they believe opportunities exist somewhere. Migration
can be classified either in-migration or on-migration. The
pull-push theory founded in the nineteenth century
formulated the reason why there is a movement of people.
Other theories on migration include neoclassical
economic theory, new household migration theory, dual labor market theory, world system theory,
network theory and cumulative theory. Studies suggest that in terms of gender its varied depends on the
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regional origin, in Asia women has the most migrants. Most of these of migrants are young adults that

either migrate to expand their career or taking their education. 3

Extracted from: Population: An Introduction to Concepts, p 276

1.2 How would each of these processes affect the development state of a a
certain nation?
The three processes are the foundation of population surge/movement. Migration transition is a
product of the lowering of mortality rates and the higher rate of fertility. People from the rural areas that
have high survival rate transfers in the urban areas (rural-urban transition). From here, population flourish
and may leads to problematic or beneficial to the migrants new city.

Countries benefits from these population transition. For example, in the migration transition
were workers are the primary migrants, the country of origin may benefits from the remittance while the
country of work benefits of their service. There are economic and social benefits of these movements, in
relation to the three components of demography. The primary concern of the global government is to limit
or regulate the surge of population and maximize the potentials that developed their economy.

2. In
general, how would you describe the demographic processes in our
country?
There is a great demographic transition happening in our country which is widely observed on
migration transition. Examples of these are the migrations of Filipino nurses to the United States that
began since the end of World War II and a policy of Ferdinand Marcos. A VOX documentary highlights
the migration of Filipino nurses since a law was made to train Filipino nurses and letting them work
abroad. This policy benefits great to the Filipino nation and also the United States government. It is
documented that around 150,000 Filipino nurses had already worked for the United States and other
European countries alone, the VOX documentary was premiered in 2020.
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This migration transition is reflected in a push-pull factor and the theory of Neoclassical
Economist Theory. The policy that was made of Marcos was a reaction to the dwindling economy of the
country during his time. In relation also with the ties of the country to the United States of America since
it is once its colony. Nurses alone in the Philippines wage low compared to their contemporaries abroad.
Therefore, more Filipinos encouraged to work abroad rather than serving in the country. 4

Both extracted on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw8a8n7ZAZg

Another migration transition that is happening in the country is the cases of domestic workers
abroad. According to the International Labor Organisation, 5 there are 11.5 million migrant domestic
workers worldwide. By the Philippine government’s own estimate, approximately one in four is a Filipina
woman. International advocacy organisations believe the number would likely be higher if those who are
undocumented were taken into account. In 1999, a study said that Filipinos and Thai women reasons why
they migrate to different countries are to work. These includes domestic, commercial, sex and
entertainment (Hugo, 1999).6 Most of these workers suffered heavily in the hands of their employers.
Some of them died while on duty.

Mortality transition remain low until the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, as of this writing,
the current count of deaths of the disease is 58,771, as of this writing. However an statistical survey from
January-November 2021, suggests that Ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular disease, and COVID-19
are the primary cause of deaths in the Philippines. Ischaemic heart diseases have 125,913 cases or 17.9
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percent of the total deaths in the country. Cerebrovascular disease got 68,180 deaths (9.7% share). While
COVID-19 has 67,494 deaths (9.6% share) (this from the recorded cases of that time of press release),
rising from rank 14 with 8,390 deaths (1.5% share) in the same period of 2020. Ischaemic heart disease is
the leading cause of death since the last survey, 2019 while cerebrovascular disease ranked second from
its previous year’s rank of 3rd. It can be attributed that more Filipinos lack of physical activities and has
poor diet. The two leading diseases attributed from this practice. 7

Extracted/source from: https://psa.gov.ph/content/causes-deaths-philippines-preliminary-january-november-2021

The Philippines health system improved after the previous century’s epidemics in the
archipelago. Vaccinations, hospital instrument and sanitation policies are addressed to supplement the
weak hospital facilities, shortage of medical instruments, and the ugly health system. Phil-American War
era’s venereal diseases like smallpox, typhus, leprosy and measles are eradicated. Thanks to the effort of
the then Bureau of Public Health and the Department of Health programs. Vaccination program of the
government was present until today that it eradicated many diseases that mostly affects infants like polio.

Another trend happening in the country aligned with demographic process is the teenage
pregnancy related with fertility process. The Philippines belonged to the countries that have high fertility
rate. The current government implemented strategies to combat the latest trend on fertility issue. 8 It is
mandated as a national priority. The president urged community leaders as well as guardians to educate
and monitor the teens. But due to the onslaught of the COVID-19 in the country, there is a decrease of
pregnancies to the Philippine population. A rappler article cites that decrease of adolescent pregnancy and
teenage pregnancy from 2019’s figure.9

To describe the overall demographic transition of the Philippines, I can say that the country
improves and lacks in some aspect. The country improves in combating diseases that kills its population
in its history. But it lacks in providing and harnessing the manpower of its population, and lacks to limit
the increasing population that harm the economy and its social components.

NOTES
1
“Weeks, John R. “Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues: Tenth Edition” 2018. San
Diego State University
2
idlib
3
idlib
4
“Why the US has so many Filipino nurses.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw8a8n7ZAZg

5 1
“Weeks, John R. “Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues: Tenth Edition” 2018. San
Diego State University
 5

Redfern, Corinne. ”‘I Want To Go Home’: Pandemic Exposes Exploitative Conditions Filipina Domestic
6

Workers Face.” 2021. https://fullerproject.org/story/filipina-domestic-worker-trafficking-

pandemic/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20International%20Labor,four%20is%20a
%20Filipina%20woman.
7
”Causes of Deaths in the Philippines (Preliminary): January to November 2021 .” 2022
https://psa.gov.ph/content/causes-deaths-philippines-preliminary-january-november-2021
8”
President Duterte: Teenage Pregnancy an ‘urgent national priority’ .“2021
https://rpo2.popcom.gov.ph/president-duterte-teenage-pregnancy-an-urgent-national-priority/
#:~:text=President%20Duterte%3A%20Teenage%20Pregnancy%20an%20'urgent%20national
%20priority',-You%20are%20here&text=On%20June%2025%2C%202021%2C
%20President,pregnancies%20as%20a%20national%20priority.
9
Abad, Michelle. “Adolescent births in 2020 see sharpest decrease in 17 years – PopCom.” 2021
https://www.rappler.com/nation/population-commission-report-births-among-girls-aged-below-20-
philippines-2020/