MANILA -- Contraceptive use is rising significantly in
                 the Philippines despite opposition from the dominant
                 Roman Catholic church, a government survey has
                 revealed.

                 The number of married women aged between 15 and 49
                 using contraceptives rose to 49.3 per cent last year from
                 46.5 per cent in the previous year.

                 The country's annual birth rate of 2.3 per cent is one of
                 the highest in Asia, outstripping the domestic economic
                 output of 0.5 per cent in 1998.

                 However, church opposition has stymied the
                 development of any meaningful population programme in
                 the Philippines, whose population is expected to reach
                 76 million this year.

                 Modern contraceptive methods were now used by 32.4
                 per cent of those surveyed, up 4.2 points from a year
                 earlier, the National Economic and Development
                 Authority survey said.

                 Traditional methods such as rhythm or periodic
                 abstinence had fallen 1.4 points to 16.9 per cent.

                 The government agency said birth-control pills and
                 female sterilisation were the most popular methods of
                 contraception.

                 It said contraceptive use peaked between the ages of 35
                 and 39 years, and use was higher in urban areas. --
                 AFP

                       Adapted from The Straits Times, 4 Jan 2000