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Mercedes B. Concepcion, a leading figure
in population
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Ms. Concepcion (second
row) attending the first Asian Population Conference in New
Delhi in 1963. |
Bubbling with life and enthusiasm, Mercedes B. Concepcion, recipient
of this year’s United Nations Population Award, is a model
for those who long for an active and healthy retirement. Ms. Concepcion,
at age 77, remains among the movers and shakers in the field of
population, still juggling with many assignments and tight deadlines.
One of the Philippines’ foremost experts on population research
and policy, Ms. Concepcion is a member of numerous institutions,
amongst which are the Board of Commissioners, Philippine Commission
on Population; the Board of Trustees, Philippine Center for Population
and Development; and the Board of Trustees, Foundation for Adolescent
Development. She is also a Professor Emeritus at the College of
Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines; Chairperson,
Technical Committee on Population and Housing Statistics, National
Statistical Coordination Board; and former President of the International
Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) in 1981-1985
and now its Honorary President.
Among her many achievements, Ms. Concepcion, the first Director
and long-time professor of the University of the Philippines Population
Institute, participated in the ad hoc Commission on Population established
by the late Rafael Salas to recommend to the then Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos the promulgation of a population policy and programme
to moderate the country’s high population growth. She is also
one of the very few persons who have taken part in all of the five
Asian and Pacific Population Conferences. Her reflections on her
participation to the five decennial Conferences were published in
the Asia-Pacific Population Journal (June 2003) issue.
Contacted by email, Ms. Concepcion explained how the Population
Award had been announced to her by phone on 8 June “at 5 a.m.”
and how it had come as a very pleasant surprise. “When the
caller from IERD [Information and External Relations Division],
UNFPA, assured me that he was not kidding and that I was to prepare
my acceptance speech, I asked myself “What will I say?”
“The Philippine Commission on Population has been assiduously
nominating me for many years… In fact, I had told them to
desist since I thought I had no chance against other nominees. Apparently,
their perseverance paid off!”
Reflecting on the current issues of concern for the region, Ms.
Concepcion stressed the phenomenon of population ageing as well
as the heightened labour migration within and outside the region.
“Increasingly, the protection of overseas workers, particularly
female workers, is of immense importance, as many more cases of
abuse and violence are being reported. Oftentimes, those workers
are helpless in their need to earn a livelihood and sacrifice their
freedom in return”, she said.
Yet the region can also pride itself on having achieved “replacement
or near replacement fertility in many countries of South East Asia
and East Asia” and having reduced poverty, she said.
At the twilight of her career, Ms. Concepcion remains bitter about
the situation in her country. “The opposition of the far right
and the lack of political will to engage in population management
programmes have contributed to the yearly large increase in numbers
which strain the ability of the Government to provide basic services
in the midst of a fiscal crisis”, she said.
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