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The Star
13 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Fewer weddings, more live-ins: Filipino families are changing and the numbers prove it
MANILA: More Filipino couples are skipping the altar — and it's not just a passing trend. Key trends from the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) civil registration and vital statistics data featured in a recent report by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) point to a quiet but sweeping transformation in how Filipinos define commitment, family and stability. In 2022, the country saw a sharp post-pandemic rebound in weddings: 449,428 couples married, up 25.9 per cent from 356,839 in 2021. But the surge didn't last. The following year, marriages dropped by 7.8 per cent to 414,213. For 2024, provisional data shows a much steeper decline, with only 320,524 weddings recorded for the entire year based on data available as of April 30, 2025 — a 22.6 per cent drop compared to the previous year. The numbers showed the trend is not isolated. It reflects deep social changes: more couples are living together without marrying, more children are being born outside of wedlock and more young Filipinos say marriage can wait — or may not happen at all. 'The decline in marriages reflects changing realities as families of today come in many forms,' said CPD Executive Director Undersecretary Lisa Grace S. Bersales. 'While we uphold marriage as a sacred institution, we must also protect couples who choose alternative arrangements and ensure the welfare of every individual, ensuring no family is left behind in our nation's development,' Bersales added. The decline in formal marriages is mirrored by the growing prevalence of live-in arrangements. According to the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), the proportion of women aged 15 to 49 who were cohabiting or living with their partners as if married quadrupled over three decades, from just five per cent in 1993 to 19 per cent in 2022. Among the youth, the shift is even more striking. The 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS) found that 12 per cent of Filipinos aged 15–24 — roughly 2.4 million young people — were already living with a partner outside of marriage A prior report by the CPD provides deeper insight into this shift. Citing the study 'Unearthing Perspectives in Nuptiality and Cohabitation: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Narratives of Women Aged 20–29 in Selected Urban and Rural Areas in the Philippines,' the agency observed that while many Filipinos, especially young women, still aspire to marry someday, cohabitation often emerges as the more practical choice. Economic realities contribute heavily to this trend, particularly among young and low-income Filipinos. As demographer Dr. Jeofrey Abalos observed, cohabitation is often viewed as a 'poor man's marriage' — a way to build a family without the financial and social costs tied to formal unions. Meanwhile, factors such as the high cost of weddings, lack of familial support, or the absence of legal options — particularly for marginalised groups — frequently lead couples to delay or forego marriage altogether. The CPD also noted that, beyond economic and structural concerns, more personal and social factors increasingly shape the choice to cohabit. These include romantic motivations, such as the desire to test compatibility before committing; premarital pregnancy, which often hastens union without formal marriage; and childhood or past trauma, which can make individuals wary of formal marital structures. The report further cited logistical barriers, like living far from parents or religious institutions; influences from social media, which normalise non-traditional relationships; and contradictions in religious teachings, where spiritual beliefs sometimes clash with lived realities. 'These emerging patterns in nuptiality and cohabitation require intervention through creation and adoption of programs and policies that can strengthen the families regardless of the marital status of couples,' the CPD said. 'A holistic approach and policies… would respond to social shifts that may enable an environment and communities where families may thrive,' they added. Contrary to popular belief that June is the Philippines' favorite wedding month, February has consistently recorded the highest number of marriages in recent years. PSA's data showed that in 2023, the country registered 52,501 marriages in February, accounting for 12.7 per cent of the annual total. June, long considered the traditional wedding season, came in third with 43,295 weddings, just behind December, which posted 43,966. The trend continued into 2024. According to a separate provisional PSA data, February again topped the list with 45,199 marriages, followed by June (43,922) and April (32,609). The least number of weddings occurred in November, with just 13,463 — a consistent pattern across both years. In terms of regional distribution, CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) consistently led as the top wedding hotspot, recording 60,541 marriages in 2023, or 14.6 per cent of the national total. This was followed by the National Capital Region (51,892) and Central Luzon (47,684). On the other end of the spectrum, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) recorded the lowest number of weddings at 2,162. The nature of wedding ceremonies has shifted, too. Civil ceremonies accounted for 42.9 per cent of all marriages (177,627) in 2023, slightly down from 43.3 per cent in 2022. Roman Catholic weddings made up 31.4 per cent (130,170), and other religious rites comprised 23.5 per cent (97,538). Muslim and tribal ceremonies made up 1.5 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively. Though official data and reports did not elaborate on the reasons behind this preference, civil weddings are generally more affordable and accessible, making them a practical option for couples navigating financial constraints, lack of family approval, or interfaith considerations. While the number of formal marriages in the Philippines is declining overall, a persistent pattern remains — young girls are still disproportionately entering marriage compared to their male peers. In 2023, 12,630 adolescent females under age 20 were married, based on PSA figures. That number is four times higher than adolescent males who got married (3,058). Over half of these girls (54 per cent) married men aged 20 to 24, and 22.5 per cent married men aged 25 to 29. Despite this, there are signs that attitudes among the younger generation are shifting. According to a survey by data science and analytics firm Arkipelago Analytics, most Gen Z Filipinos (aged 13 to 28) who plan to marry prefer to do so after age 35. Respondents pointed to career goals, emotional readiness, and financial independence as their top considerations for delaying marriage. Although marriage continues to hold cultural importance in the Philippines, it is increasingly viewed, especially by younger generations, as a personal decision rather than an expected milestone in life. 'The findings indicate that Gen Z Filipinos are approaching marriage with greater intentionality,' said Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, founder of Arkipelago Analytics. 'Rather than following traditional timelines, many are prioritising emotional readiness, personal goals, and long-term compatibility.' More children in the Philippines were born to unwed parents than to legally married couples in 2023, according to PSA data. A total of 842,728 births were recorded to parents not in formal union, surpassing the 605,794 births from couples who were legally married. This shift reflects a growing prevalence of non-traditional family arrangements, where formal marriage is no longer a prerequisite for family formation. While the data does not specify the reasons behind this trend, it coincides with the broader rise in cohabitation across the country, especially among young adults and women of reproductive age. Adding complexity to this evolving picture is the alarming rise in early adolescent pregnancies, as flagged by the CPD earlier this year. Citing PSA data, the agency reported a 6.6 per cent increase in live births among very young adolescent girls under age 15, from 2,411 in 2019 to 3,343 in 2023. The agency emphasised that this trend represents a serious concern, especially given the extreme vulnerability of children in this age group. The CPD also noted that repeat pregnancies remain a major issue. In 2023, 38 girls under 15 were reported to have had repeat pregnancies, while 17 young women below 20 had already given birth five times or more. 'We call for urgent action on this issue given that it affects the health and well-being of this segment of the population, who will be the future workforce of the country,' Bersales said in a statement. 'This will significantly impact on the gains from demographic dividend, a condition where the country gains traction for economic growth, since the population is mostly made up of working ages 15-64,' she added. The agency underscored that the rising number of births among minors, particularly those aged 10 to 14, is in an 'alarming state that needs a more responsive policy.' The consequences of early childbearing, it warned, are far-reaching: disrupting girls' education, exposing them to long-term health risks, and limiting their economic opportunities. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Scoop
17 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
62 Companies Sign PSA Contracts With SIG/MRD To Supply Materials To Constituencies
Press Release – Solomon Islands Ministry of Rural Development This signing marks a significant milestone toward the full implementation of the 2025 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) budget; enabling the mobilization of essential resources for rural development projects and community improvements. The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) has completed the qualification process and recently signed legally binding agreements with 62 private companies under the Solomon Islands Government Preferred Supplier Arrangement (PSA). The PSA qualifies these Companies to supply materials, equipment, goods and services to the national government through the 50 constituencies. This signing marks a significant milestone toward the full implementation of the 2025 Constituency Development Funds (CDF) budget; enabling the mobilisation of essential resources for rural development projects and community improvements. The PSA is a SIG procurement administrative process designed to streamline and fix procurement procedures particularly for commonly procured goods or equipment by engaging legally registered, genuine, and qualified companies to supply goods and services to the government. The goal is to improve efficiency and ensure the delivery of quality services to both the government and the public. 'The PSA contracts are valid for one year, with procurement of goods and services governed by and in compliance with Sections 73 and 74 of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act 2013 and Section 28 of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) Act 2023' MRD said in an official statement. 'The processes will be closely monitored by MRD in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) to ensure all procurement procedures under the relevant sections of the PFM Act 2013, SIG Procurement Manual and the CDF Act 2023 are complied with, guaranteeing that quality goods and services are delivered to the constituencies,' the statement added. It further explained that, to ensure impartiality, the PSA underwent a rigorous selection and evaluation process, including physical site inspections and assessments on suppliers conducted by the MRD Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC). The process also involved scrutiny by the Ministry of Finance (MoFT) and the Central Tender Board (CTB) before contracts were awarded to successful suppliers. Regarding pricing, MRD secured fixed prices for various items based on prevailing market rates, ensuring value for money and consistent quality of materials purchased by constituencies for development projects. Price evaluation was conducted exclusively for the 62 qualified companies across the following categories/items: Hardware and Building Materials Forestry Milling Products Marine, Seagoing, and Fishing Equipment Plant & Motor Vehicles Electrification Supplies Plumbing, Water Supply, and Sanitation Equipment Communication, Musical, and Sound Equipment Sports Equipment and Accessories Agriculture and Gardening Equipment Tailoring, Embroidery, and Fabric Printing Equipment Cookery, Bakery, and Kitchenware Retail Goods The CTB serves as the awarding authority, responsible for the tender awards following the completion of all technical evaluation processes undertaken by MRD. PSA contracts are prepared by MRD, with signatories including Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (Chairman of the CTB), PS MRD (Chairman of the Ministerial Tender Board, MTB), and the suppliers. The contracts are valid for one year (12 months), with fixed prices throughout the period. The list of the qualified suppliers for the PSA will be published when all contract documentations are finalised soon. The Tender for the PSA was publicised in October 2024, with 68 companies submitting bids. After thorough evaluation, six companies were disqualified for failing to meet the minimum technical requirements outlined in the tender documentation, including Section VI, Schedule of Requirements. MRD also undertook a quick review of the selling prices of commonly procured goods under the PSA which resulted in some decrease in pricing on some commonly procured goods under the scheme. Funding for the 2025 PSA is allocated from the MRD/SIG Development Budget. The SIG support to the Constituency Development Program totals $250 million, which will be equally shared among the 50 constituencies—each receiving $5 million. Of this amount, $3.2 million is allocated and to be processed via the Preferred Suppliers Arrangement, while $1.8 million is provided as grants to the respective constituencies. Funding utilisation will follow the sectoral allocations stipulated in the CDF Act 2023, Section 26. Specifically, the funding utilisation will be portioned as follows: The implementation of the 2025 CDF program continues to progress smoothly.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
'The time for excuses has passed' — PSA vows escalation until every unemployed doctor in KZN is hired
The Public Servants Association (PSA) has vowed to intensify protest action until every qualified, unemployed doctor in KwaZulu-Natal is absorbed into the provincial health system. The union, which represents thousands of public sector employees, has thrown its weight behind more than 150 unemployed doctors, who despite completing their internships and community service, remain without work. 'These doctors have completed their internship and community service obligations in line with public health policy but have been abandoned by the same government that trained them,' said the PSA in a statement. The union warned it would not back down until the KZN department of health provides clear answers about staffing plans. 'Health care is not a commodity, it is a human right. Doctors are not surplus, they are essential,' said the PSA. In a recent media statement, the KwaZulu-Natal health department confirmed that 20 medical officer posts will be advertised within the next seven days as part of an interim intervention. 'This comes as a result of ongoing engagements between the department of health and the Office of the Premier, which are aimed at finding practical solutions under challenging fiscal conditions,' the department said. Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane, speaking alongside premier Thami Ntuli, explained that the 800 medical posts referenced earlier this year by the national finance minister refer to a national allocation — not a provincial one — and that KZN will only receive a portion. 'We want to make it clear that those 800 posts form part of a national process, which is being handled at the level of the minister of health, the minister of finance, and parliament. KZN, like all other provinces, will receive a portion of those posts. Once national [government] has finalised that process and informed us how many posts we will receive, we will immediately advertise them,' said Simelane. She said they were not ignoring the problem. 'When we realised that our provincial budget would not be enough to absorb all the doctors finishing their community service this year, we escalated the matter to the premier. The premier and I then took the issue directly to the president,' said Simelane. Simelane blamed long-term financial cuts for the current staffing crisis. 'In the past five years, our department has lost R14bn to baseline budget cuts. That has greatly affected our ability to expand our staff complement,' she said. The PSA said these explanations were not enough. 'The PSA demands that minister of health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, must immediately confirm how many of the 1,500 posts he promised on April 10 have been allocated to KwaZulu-Natal,' the union said. 'In addition, budget allocations must be urgently released to allow the provincial department to advertise and fill these critical posts without delay. This delay is a denial of justice, a betrayal of the working class, and a blatant undermining of the right to health for the people of KwaZulu-Natal,' said the PSA. The union painted a dire picture of the state of health care in the province, saying it has a doctor-to-patient ratio of just 0.4 per 1,000 people — far below acceptable standards. 'Emergency units are short-staffed, surgical backlogs are growing, and burnout among medical personnel has reached a breaking point. And yet, over 150 doctors remain jobless. The situation reflects poor governance and a leadership crisis,' said the PSA. 'These are not new posts but critical vacancies that have been left unfilled.' The union has also called for a joint meeting involving national and provincial authorities, unions and community organisations to craft a 'radical and people-centred workforce plan' based on population needs and transparent staffing data. 'These unemployed doctors are not job seekers begging for work. They are professionals demanding the fulfilment of a promise, and the right to serve communities. Government cannot continue to pay lip service to health transformation while it leaves hospitals short of hands and graduates unemployed,' the PSA said. The union warned that unless decisive action is taken soon, it will escalate its mobilisation efforts. 'The time for bureaucratic excuses has passed. The PSA will intensify mobilisation alongside unemployed doctors and progressive forces until every qualified doctor is placed, every funded post is filled and every patient is treated with dignity,' it said.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Union warns against meat self-inspection plans
Photo: 123RF The Public Service Association (PSA) says potential plans to privatise New Zealand's meat inspection service could put food quality and safety at risk. The PSA said the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is looking at allowing meat processing companies to carry out more of their own inspection work with reduced oversight from AsureQuality (AQ), the government's meat inspection service. Vincent Arbuckle of New Zealand Food Safety said MPI has been reviewing inspection and supervision requirements for exported meat with support from industry and AQ, including looking at more flexible and efficient inspection and verification options. However Arbuckle said no changes had been proposed yet, and any changes would involve a formal consultation process. The PSA feared the changes could result in the loss of jobs at AQ, leading current meat inspectors to move to the private sector, with lower wages and poorer conditions. National secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said independent meat inspectors were important for ensuring high food quality and safety. "It's clear there are plans underway for company meat inspection, which is a major departure from the current situation where we have independent meat inspectors employed by AQ." She said they had been doing an "excellent job" for many years. "The work of meat inspectors ensures that disease and defects in products are identified and that meat is fit for human consumption. "Independent meat inspectors are more rigorous because they have no vested interest in the end product and will not cut corners to increase company profits. Our overseas markets and consumers here at home will miss out if we lose the independence of our meat inspection services." Arbuckle said instead, along with the support of industry and input from AQ, MPI had been developing a programme of work to review the inspection and supervision requirements for exported New Zealand meat. "The programme is investigating possible changes to align New Zealand's requirements for inspecting and verifying exported meat more closely with international guidelines and our own domestic regulatory rules," he said. "As part of this we are investigating models for meat inspection and verification that would allow New Zealand to maintain our high standards for meat products in a more flexible and efficient way." Arbuckle said some companies had carried out inspections for more than a decade with no food safety incidents. Together they accounted for roughly 17 percent of all slaughter establishments, and had exported millions of kilograms of meat. Similarly, he pointed to New Zealand's dairy sector which performed its own quality and food safety compliance with external verification from MPI-appointed verifiers. He said nothing would be changed to risk New Zealand's reputation for food safety. "New Zealand enjoys an excellent reputation for food safety and suitability - this cannot be jeopardised and will not change." Arbuckle said any proposed changes would be subject to a formal consultation process, with the development of any proposals and consultations expected to take the remainder of the year. "We, and our partner AQ, are doing the right thing by communicating with relevant unions to keep them abreast of developments, even at this very early stage." Consultation on possible changes to meat inspection and supervision requirements could start in August. Any resultant changes would not come into force until next year. AQ chief executive Kim Ballinger said as no consultation process had yet been undertaken, she could not comment on any potential outcome implications at this point. She said they were "incredibly proud of our employees for the exceptional meat inspection service they provide" and looked forward to continuing a premium service for New Zealand exports into the future. "We're continuing to prioritise collaboration with our people and unions, customers, MPI, industry bodies and our other partners, to support New Zealand's red meat sector in providing the high-quality, safe meat products that it's renowned for globally." Richard McColl from the Meat Industry Association, which represented meat processors, said one of the models being explored would give members more control and flexibility. "The current meat inspection model is resource intensive and has not evolved along with other parts of the sector. This programme is about giving meat processors and exporters responsibility and ownership of their own risks. "This programme is an opportunity to explore and consider other meat inspection options to achieve the crucial food safety and market access requirements, while also building a more resilient and higher-skilled workforce, with roles that offer greater responsibility, development, and career progression for the thousands of staff employed by red meat processors." He said whichever model was chosen, the final inspection would always be done by a government employee "Our members' reputations rises and falls on the back of food safety outcomes. New Zealand has one of the highest if not the highest reputation for food safety so none of our members are going to compromise food safety outcomes." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
United News of India
2 days ago
- United News of India
J&K: Police arrest 87 in drug crackdown, seize narcotics worth Rs 2.42cr
Jammu, June 30 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Police in its war against drugs this year so far have arrested 87 accused persons, seized narcotics worth Rs 2.42 crore and attached properties in Udhampur district. An official spokesman here today said that district police in Udhampur have intensified their war against narcotics and registered 61 cases under the NDPS Act. A total of 87 accused were arrested, including 80 under NDPS and 7 under PIT NDPS/PSA provisions; 22 vehicles used for narcotics transportation were seized; and additionally, six pharmacy shops were sealed for violating norms related to H1 drugs, said the spokesman. He further added that as part of financial disruption, 43 bank accounts linked to drug peddlers were frozen, involving an amount of Rs 16,72,948 and seized contraband during this period was valued at Rs 2.42 crore on the black market, including Heroin, Charas, Poppy Straw and Ganja. Further tightening the grip on drug networks, the spokesman added that Udhampur police attached properties worth Rs 4.69 crore, including multiple vehicles, residential houses, and commercial assets related to both NDPS and bovine smuggling cases. Moreover, police have also successfully secured convictions against 28 drug peddlers in 21 cases from courts, which marks the professional approach towards case investigation and prosecution, he added. UNI VBH ARN
