Gov't sees 100M population both challenge, opportunity

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine government sees as both challenge and opportunity the prospect of the country's population reaching the 100 million mark in 2014, a senior government official said Sunday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told a state-run radio that the Philippine Development Plan aims to make sure all Filipinos benefit from the nation's growth.

"It is both a challenge and an opportunity because people are the most important resource. That is our balanced view of the situation," he said.

Commission on Population executive director Juan Antonio Perez III, according to local media, said that by the third or fourth quarter of this year, the Philippine population could hit 100 million.

The National Statistical Coordination Board projected the country's population to be at 97.35 million in 2013.

Coloma pointed out a large part of the budget for 2014 is geared for social protection and social welfare and development.