Filipinos are sleeping less—and the country is paying the price.
According to the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine Inc. (PSSMI), the Philippines now ranks first in Southeast Asia and fourth in the world when it comes to sleep deprivation. It’s a troubling wake-up call that experts say should no longer be ignored.
“When left unchecked it can get worse,” said Dr. Jimmy Chang, president of PSSMI, in a Rappler report. He called the situation a “sleep epidemic” and warned that “if we don’t emphasize the importance of sleep, Filipinos will always sacrifice sleep for something else.”
From battling insomnia to struggling with sleep apnea, more and more Filipinos are showing signs of unhealthy sleep patterns. But it’s not just about how many hours people clock in at night—when and how well they sleep also matters.
“We have to follow the day and night cycle. We are meant to sleep at night or be awake during the day,” Chang explained. He also pointed out how habits like scrolling on phones, drinking coffee late in the day, regular alcohol consumption, and working out late at night mess with our body clocks. “You can’t engage in a strenuous activity at least four hours before going to bed,” he added. “This is because your body pumps up your adrenaline so much it would cause difficulty in making you relax for sleep.”
The long-term effects of poor sleep are far from harmless. Research shows it can increase the risk of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and even cancer.
But changing sleep habits isn’t just an individual challenge—it’s a cultural and systemic one.
“In our culture, there’s a misconception about sleep and its importance. Sinasabi pa nga nila, ‘sleep is for the weak,’” said Chang. He pointed to BPO workers on night shifts and students forced to wake up early as examples of how work and school schedules are out of sync with the body’s natural rhythms. “Children are sleep deprived too, eventually,” he said.
While there is a proposed Senate Bill—the Sleep Disorder Awareness and Education Act—it has yet to be passed. Chang remains hopeful: “This bill is very exciting for our Society because it now instructs the Department of Health to give us more priority in order to know how big the problem is and now to also have the capability to address the problem.”
As PSSMI marks its 23rd year, the organization continues to push for more sleep education, better access to sleep specialists, and sleep centers beyond Metro Manila.
For Dr. Chang, the bottom line is simple: “Sleep is essential for survival. It is non-negotiable. It is like drinking water or breathing air.”
