MANILA, April 6 -- The drop in fertility rate below the replacement level at this time presents economic opportunities in the Philippines by increasing the working-age population, which would support the dependent population, an official of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) said on Friday.

In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview over PTV 4, acting Division Chief of the CPD's Knowledge Management and Communication Division Mylin Mirasol Quiray said the total fertility rate in the Philippines stands at 1.5 children per woman, which is below the replacement level of 2.1 children, at which women give birth to babies just enough to keep the population stable.

However, she said, the decline in fertility rate still presents eco...