World Bank: Philippines in better position to attain MDGs with CCTs

MANILA, Philippines – The World Bank believes the Philippines is in a better position to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in three years due to the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.

In a preliminary assessment of the program, the World Bank said families covered by the CCTs spent 36% more on education and 33% more on medicine and medical services.

The bank said with the CCTs, around 64% of mothers are receiving prenatal care compared to the 54% previously recorded. Mother receiving postnatal care also increased to 36% from the initial estimate of 27%.

“Based on the initial findings, (the CCT) has (a) strong and consistent impact on the key indicators targeted by the program in line with other CCT programs around the world,” the bank said. “Pantawid helps attain (the) MDGs.”

Pinoy kids benefiting

The bank finding also showed that after the CCTs, the enrollment rate in day care centers increased to 76% from 65%; elementary, 98% from 93%; and regular attendance rate in elementary and high school, 96% from 91%.

More children were also availing of health services. Children having their weight monitored increased to 33.3% from 16%; taking deworming pills, 63.3% from 55.3%; and taking Vitamin A, 80.6% from 74.9%.

The results of the findings were based on a survey of 1,418 households who were covered by the CCTs. The families were from Lanao del Norte, Mountain Province, Negros Oriental, and Occidental Mindoro.

The goals

The MDGs are a set of eight goals, 22 quantitative targets and more than 60 specific indicators meant to serve as a focus for international and national development policy.

The Philippines lags behind in achieving the goals on universal primary education and reducing Maternal Mortality.

The first seven goals are concerned with outcomes, identifying the progress toward certain standards of human welfare and development that should be achieved globally and nationally by 2015.

The eighth goal is concerned with “global partnership for development” to support the realization of all the goals.–CAI ORDINARIO, Rappler.com