METRO Manila, the country's capital region, may no longer have the same attraction for people, as the growth of its population slowed based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing (2020 CPH).

Popcom-NCR Regional Director Lydio M. Español Jr. said the decline is expected to continue in the coming years due to internal migration and the government's family planning program.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed the population of NCR was at 13.48 million in May 2020, higher than the 11.86 million posted in May 2010. In August 2015, the population of the megacity was at 12.877 million and in May 2000, it was at 9.93 million.

"Our target for the country is a 2.1 total fertility rate or around 2 children per woman during her reproductive years. With this scenario and further promotion of use of modern contraceptives in all barangays, we could see a declining population growth rate in the next few years," Español added.

PSA said the population growth rate between 2010 and 2020 slowed to 1.29 percent from the 1.78 percent posted between 2000 and 2010.

The data also showed that the population growth rate of the megacity slowed to 0.97 percent between 2015 and 2020, slower than the 1.58 percent posted between 2010 and 2015.

Popcom NCR said the slowdown was noted in most cities, particularly in Navotas City which posted a population contraction of 0.16 percent from a growth of 0.03 percent in 2015.

The decline was also observed over a 10-year period. Navotas saw a contraction of 0.06 percent in its population between 2010 and 2020, slower than the growth of 0.78 percent between 2000 and 2010.

QC, Manila still most populous

Meanwhile, data showed Quezon City is still the most populated LGU with a total population count of 2.96 million followed by City of Manila with 1.847 million and Caloocan City with 1.66 million.

PSA data, however, showed the population growth rate of Quezon City and Caloocan City slowed over a 10-year period.

Quezon City posted a growth rate of 0.7 percent between 2010 and 2020, slower than the 2.42 percent posted between 2000 and 2010.

Caloocan, for its part, saw a population growth rate of 1.1 percent between 2010 and 2020, slower than the 2.37 percent growth between 2000 and 2010.

"The decrease in population in most of the LGUs can be attributed to internal migration that has pushed many Filipinos to return to their provinces due to the pandemic," Popcom-NCR also stated.

In the previous population count, the municipality of Pateros recorded a negative growth rate of 0.09 percent but the population growth rate has increased to 0.45 percent in 2020.

Other LGUs with a notable increase were San Juan, Malabon, Pasay, Pateros and Valenzuela. The latter reported an increase of up to 3.03 percent, the highest increase among all LGUs.

In 2020, Popcom and its regional offices launched the Family Planning Helpline to reach individuals greatly affected by the quarantine restrictions.

In Metro Manila, many of those who inquired about Family Planning were referred and served in barangay health centers and some in the Popcom Family Wellness Clinic in Mandaluyong City.

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