A baby girl born in Manila early Tuesday is one of the newborns, symbolizing being the 8 billionth person in the world, according to a report by Nico Waje on GMA News’ Unang Balita.
Vinice Mabansag was born at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital at 1:29 a.m.
“So we just witnessed the world’s 8th billion baby in the Philippines. So we waited around two hours starting at 11 p.m. last night, and the baby was delivered at around 1:29 a.m., a normal spontaneous delivery,” said the hospital’s chief medical professional staff, Dr. Romeo Bituin.
The United Nations had earlier estimated that the global human population would reach eight billion by mid-November this year.
Vinice’s mother, Maria Margarette Villorente, said she is happy that her daughter is considered the world’s “8th billion baby,” adding that it is a blessing for her.
The Commission on Population and Development’s (POPCOM) chief administrative officer, Lyneth Therese Monsalve, said they are hoping that Vinice will be a symbol of development in the future.
“We are looking at, particularly at local government units, the possible interventions that they have to offer for these babies and future babies in terms of health, education, and housing when they grow up,” she said.
According to POPCOM, the population in the Philippines is growing slower with a 1.9 ꜰᴇʀᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ rate in 2022, which means a mother gives birth to less than two babies. This is lower compared to the 2.7 ꜰᴇʀᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ rate in 2017.
According to the report, the lower ꜰᴇʀᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ rate is attributed to the impact of the ⒸⓄⓋⒾⒹ-①⑨ ᴘᴀɴᴅᴇᴍɪᴄ and the growing knowledge of Filipinos about family planning.