He compares the Philippines to Thailand.
In 1975 both countries had similar population sizes of 41 to 42 million. Then Bangkok launched a major family planning effort.
Now Thailand has a population of around 64 million and is the world's top exporter of rice. Meanwhile, the Philippines with a population of 90 million is the world's top importer of the grain.
Thailand had a gross annual income per capita of $7,880 in 2007, while in the Philippines it was $3,730.
"Our studies show that if the Philippines had followed the (population) growth trajectory of Thailand between 1975 and 2000 the per capita income would have been at least 22 percent higher and there would have been 5 million less poor people," said Pernia. "That is a conservative estimate."
Yet the proposed reproductive health bill will likely never see the light of day as the influential Catholic Church is staunchly opposed to artificial birth control as a violation of its religions tenets.
source: Birth control battle weighs on Philippine economy