Phl to mark 100 million population

KALIBO, the Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine Population Commission (POPCOM) expects the country's population to officially reach 100 million on July 27.

In an information released by the POPCOM-Western Visayas today, the office said that the 100th million Filipino is anticipated to be born in the said date from either of the six provinces under the Western Visayas region and Iloilo City.

Because of this, the POPCOM in the region will award seven starter kits worth P5,000 ($115) each if a baby is born at around 12:06 of July 27. The said government agency has prepared at least one kit in each of the six provinces and the city of Iloilo.

The criteria should include that a child should be born in a government accredited hospital facility; born through normal or spontaneous delivery; parents must be a resident of the provinces in the region and etc.  

Deadline of submission at the POPCOM regional office in Iloilo is on Aug. 4.  

According to the national census of population conduced in 2010, the Philippines has a population of 92.3 million. In 2013, the National Statistical Coordination Board of the Philippines estimated the country's population to be around 97.35 million.