NEDA upbeat most MDGs will be met by 2015

MANILA – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Monday said the Philippines is likely to achieve most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

This after the United Nations’ 2013 Human Development Report said the country lagged in some of the MDGs.

“While the report cited the Philippines as lagging on other MDGs, official statistics show that we are likely to meet the targets on food poverty, child mortality, and access to safe drinking water and sanitary toilet facilities by 2015,” NEDA Director-General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

The National Statistical Coordination Board’s 2009 Family Income and Expenditure Survey showed that extreme poverty was down to 10.8 percent from 16.5 percent in 1991, closer to the 2015 target of 8.25 percent. The official figure for 2012 will be known later this year.

Also, under-five mortality dropped to 30 deaths per 1,000 lives in 2011 from 80 in 1990. The country has already surpassed the target on access to sanitary toilet facilities as percentage of families with access already reached 92.5 percent at end-2010, surpassing the 2015 target of 83.8 percent.

Likewise, the percentage of Filipinos with access to safe water supply also improved to 84.8 percent in 2010 from 73 percent in 1991, closer to the 86.5 MDG.

The Philippines also achieved three of the eight MDGs ahead of the 2015 target, according to Balisacan. “We are an early achiever in the attainment of the MDGs in the areas of gender equality, disease control, and environmental sustainability,” he said.

Citing the “2012 MDGs Regional Report: Where We Stand”, Balisacan said the Philippines has attained three of the eight goals and nine out of the 22 indicators of the MDGs way before the 2015 target.

Overall, the Philippines fared better than some of its Southeast Asian neighbors, such as Timor Leste, Cambodia and Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic.

On women empowerment, the Philippines has succeeded in realizing gender equality in primary, secondary and tertiary education, Balisacan said.

He said the country has been successful in reducing the prevalence of malaria and tuberculosis, even though reversing or halting the spread of HIV/AIDS remains a challenge. The MDG for tuberculosis incidence has already been met while the target on tuberculosis prevalence is well within reach, Balisacan said.

The country is also reported to have achieved the targets for its indicators on forest cover, protected areas, carbon-dioxide emissions and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, which include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

“Nevertheless, the government will continue to double its efforts in ensuring human development in the country through programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the National Health Insurance Program and other pro-poor initiatives of the Aquino administration,” Balisacan said. –Darwin G. Amojelar, InterAksyon.com