Trends and Patterns of Internal Migration in the Philippines : 1970 - 1980

With respect to the growing awareness that migration affects national development, there is a need to keep researchers, planners and policy makers informed of current trends on internal migration. Only updated studies could provide valuable insights on demographic movements, and be helpful in framing policies to alter or regulate the population redistribution. The purpose of this paper is precisely is to determine the nature of more recent geographic patterns of internal migration in the Philippines, as documented by migration data from the two latest censuses (1975 and 1980), with emphasis on regional migration streams (volume and direction). The present study is a methodological extension of previous research, since migration data here are adjusted for information on "Not Stated". Its purpose is to update, verify or correct findings rather than repeat the earlier studies. In the census tabulation, the term "Not Stated" was used to designate persons 5 years old and over who have not reported their province of residence at the time of previous censuses. The number of this class of enumerated persons was quite high. Therefore, absence of adjustment "Not Reported" constitutes a serious drawback to analysis and could lead to a truncated view of migration trends and patterns. The analysis below seeks to provide facts rather than explanations as to why these facts exist. This limitation is due to our exclusive utilization of demographic data, whereas a full understanding of migration motivation needs the consideration of social and economic data. This research work has seven major findings. Two of these results are related to the intercensal migration status of the population, four are connected with the volume and direction of migration streams, while the last finding concerns the sex selectivity of migration.