It may look more like an overcrowded squat but this is actually a maternity ward. The ward is at Dr Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila in the Philippines where some 300 new mothers crammed three to a bed. It is one of the busiest maternity wards in the world with an average of 60 births a day but it can record as many as 100 in 24 hours. 'Sometimes, during high season, 13 to 16 babies are in the delivery room at the same time, Arlene Matanguihan, a resident doctor, told the Guardian. 'Its chaotic but an organised chaos. We can still manage no baby drops out on the floor. The Philippines has a staggering population growth rate of around 2 per cent, way above the average for South East Asia (1.7 per cent), with around 200 babies born per hour nationally. Lack of a national policy on birth control is partly blamed for the unregulated population explosion in a devoutly Catholic country where 90 per cent of the people ascribe to the religion. Birth control is frowned upon by the powerful Catholic church but the combination of factors has led to the Philippines becoming the second most populous nation in the region after Indonesia. With around 90million people in its borders questions are being asked as to whether the country can sustain its population rates and how to go about tackling the issue. The government is now discussing the introduction of family planning legislation which would allow for sex education in schools, and advice on - and better access to - birth control. The Catholics Bishops Conference of the Philippines is openly revolting against the plans and has even threatened to excommunicate the president if he follows through with the policy. Catholics see birth control and abortion as contrary to 'Gods will that we procreate, but politicians know they have to begin to exert control over the issue. Congressman Edcel Lagman, who authored the bill in the House of Representatives, said it would benefit people on healthcare, educational and human rights platforms. 'It will help give parents the chance to exercise their right to free and responsibly plan the number and spacing of their children, and help improve maternal newborn education and reduce infant and maternal mortality, he said. -DM