The annual population growth rate in Negros Oriental slowed down by 0.71 percent between the period 2000 to 2010 compared to the previous population census.
Results of the 2010 population count pegged the province’s annual population growth rate for the ten-year period at 1.31 percent.
This is lower from the 2.02 percent annual growth rate recorded by NSO in the province between 1990 to 2000.
As of May 1, 2010, there are 1,286,666 persons living in Negros Oriental.
The figure is higher by 156,578 persons from the province’s census in 2000 which was 1.13 million, said Engr. Ariel Fortuito, officer in charge of the National Statistics Office (NSO) here.
If the province’s annual growth rate did not decrease between 2000 to 2010, the current population would have been higher, said Felida Generoso, NSO Statistical Coordinating Officer 2.
“The lag in the growth rate may be attributed to migration or the increased awareness on family planning,” Generoso told the Philippine Information Agency.
Fortuito, in a statement, said Pres. Benigno Aquino III earlier signed Proclamation No. 362 declaring the results of the 2010 census of population and housing (CPH) conducted by NSO as official.
The 2010 population census showed Negros Oriental’s capital, Dumaguete City, has a population of 120,883, the highest among the 25 total local government units in the province.
Fortuito said Dumaguete contributes to 9.40 percent of the province’s total population.
Bayawan City ranked second with its population of 114,074, contributing to 8.87 percent of the total population in the province.
The least populated area is San Jose town, with a population of 19,098 or a share of 1.48 percent of the province’s population pie.
One city and eight towns recorded an annual growth rate higher than the provincial average for the period 2000-2010.
These are Bacong (3.35%), Sibulan (3.22%), Valencia (2.59%), San Jose (2%), Dauin (1.82%), Dumaguete City (1.69%), Basay (1.55%), Amlan (1.45%) and Siaton (1.32%).
Generoso said the next population census is scheduled at 2020.
Fortuito added that the population count is the source of information on the size and distribution of the population as well as information about the demographic, social, and economic characteristics.
“This information is vital for making rational plans and programs towards national and local development,” he said. (PIA Negros Oriental)
