Cebu has biggest population among provinces

CEBU CITY, Philippines - There are now 3.85 million people in Cebu Province, according to the 2007 census by the National Statistics Office (NSO). The figure makes Cebu the largest province in terms of population. But excluding population figures for the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue, Cebu Province's population is 2,439,065 or a growth of only 1.68 percent. Not counting the highly urbanized cities, Cebu would rank fifth among provinces in terms of population size and Cavite, with 2.66 million, would rank first. NSO Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta said that Central Visayas has a total population of 6,398,628 with 1.69 percent growth. This is broken down into: Cebu, 2,439,005; Bohol, 1,230,110; Cebu City, 798,809; Lapu-Lapu City, 292,530; Mandaue City, 318,575; Oriental Negros, 1,231,904; and Siquijor, 87,695. Ericta said Lapu-Lapu City has the highest growth rate at 4.20 percent. This can be attributed to migration, especially by people who work at various manufacturing firms in the Mactan Economic Zone. Lapu-Lapu City population growth may also have something to do with the number of subdivisions and housing projects being built and the fertility of its women. Cebu City has the lowest growth rate, at 1.46 percent, among urban areas. Ericta said that the NSO couldn’t give the exact reason why Cebu City has the lowest growth rate among cities when the volume of economic activity is high. But she said this might be because people may have relocated to other areas where there are better opportunities to own a house. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1489 declaring as official the 2007 population count of the Philippines. Ericta said that the 2007 nationwide census had a budget of P1.3 billion. The latest census result showed that there were 88.57 million Filipinos as of August 2007 with an annual growth rate of 2.04 percent for the period 2000 to 2007. In comparison, the population growth of the country was 3.01 percent in the 1960-1970 census; 2.75 percent in the 1970-1980 census; 2.35 percent in the 1980-1990 census. From 1990, the census was held every five years. The 1990-1995 census showed a 2.34 growth. The 1995-2000 census had a 2.36 growth. Ericta said a census was scheduled in 2005 but the government lacked money for it, hence it was moved to 2007. The next census will be in 2010, when the Arroyo administration plans to bring down the growth rate to 1.95 percent. - Sun.Star Cebu