The Danger of the Aging Population in the Philippines
The Philippines is on the brink of experiencing a trend that many countries have experienced at some point throughout history: an aging population. It is not only the Philippines that has an aging population; this phenomenon can be found in other countries such as Japan and Thailand.
In fact, the process of acquiring an aging population has progressed even further in these two countries, thus giving a preview of the dangers that can accompany an aging population. In the Philippines, residents can expect these problems as the population continues to get older and older.
Beginning with a Baby Boom
An aging population is a common trend that has affected other countries before, and the cause is undisputed. Usually, a large aging population is the result of a boom in births that occurred sixty years before. Take for example the "baby boomer" generation that can be seen in the United States. The high birth rate after World War II led to a modern day increase in the aging population. The aging population in the Philippines can be attributed to a similar situation.
The Ramifications of Growing Old in Groups
At first glance, an aging population in the Philippines or anywhere, for that matter, might not seem like a problem. However, this situation actually presents several problems for the future of the county. One problem is providing health care for all of these aging people.
The elderly tend to have more health problems anyway, but in the Philippines an aging population presents even more of a problem. This is because the Philippines is an underdeveloped country, where the health risks are even greater. In the Philippines, particularly, the services available to the aging population are less than adequate. This means that reforms in these services will have to be made.
Another problem presented by an aging population in countries like the Philippines is the employment rate. When a large segment of the population becomes older, it means that there is a smaller amount of people available to fill the jobs in the country. An employment shortage can cause a decrease in the quantity and quality of services available to the overall population.
Problem Prevention
If the Philippines is to prevent the problems that could be in their future, they must improve the services available to their aging population and streamline the amount of positions needed to complete the country's jobs. Unless the Philippines can effectively deal with their aging population, they will be faced with many future social problems.
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