THE GOVERNMENT will focus on poverty alleviation efforts at the local
level in a bid to achieve more of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) by 2015, a Cabinet official said yesterday.
Speaking at the local launch of the United Nations’ 2010 Stand Up, Take Action
Campaign, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon J. Soliman said this is
the only way to make more gains towards the eight MDGs, namely: eradicating
extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting
gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving
maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring
environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.
"The present government is aware and recognizes that while national figures present
specific data, what is really happening is that these double, triple, or even quadruple
in different areas in the country," Ms. Soliman said, referring to the latest official
estimate of a 32.9% national poverty incidence in 2006.
Falling behind
Data of the National Statistical Coordination Board show that 13 of the country’s 17
provinces had poverty rates worse than the national incidence that year.
UN and the government itself have determined that the country has fallen behind in
achieving five of the eight MDGs, namely: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger,
achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, improving
maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS.
In the same event, Social Watch lead convenor Leonor M. Briones cited the need "for
citizen monitoring and shadow reports to confirm what is claimed by officials and
what the people really feel."
Last Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr. had
said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will incorporate the
MDGs as a focus in the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for 2010-2016.
"NEDA is already starting the next planning cycle and we will, of course, include the
MDGs as we try to coordinate planning for the next six years," a statement then
quoted Mr. Paderanga as saying.
He added that NEDA will "determine which regions are lagging behind in terms of
achieving the MDGs" and will break down plans and targets to the regional level. "It
makes sense to explore regional dimensions in order to facilitate inclusive growth and
address problems of inequity," he said. -- MJKRC
