Next medium-term plan to reflect RP’s commitment to MDG, says Paderanga

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) for the period 2010 to 2016 contain policies and strategies that reflect the country’s commitment to prioritize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. said.

He said the next MTDP will make sure that growth will be shared with the poor and the vulnerable by paving the concrete access of every Filipino to quality health, education and employment opportunities through an appropriate mix of physical and social infrastructures, and by strengthening social safety nets like conditional cash transfers and universal healthcare.

Paderanga said programs to help the Philippines adopt better to climate change would also be included in the plan.

“We will also integrate climate change adaptation strategies and measures to protect what we have already achieved and continue our work toward meeting MDG targets,” he said.

He said the government’s MTDP aims to harness the partnerships between the public and private sectors, including those in civil society, business, the academe, media, religious groups and international development partners.

“We will also ensure that environmental sustainability shall not be compromised in the process of economic growth. In line with our MDG strategies, we asked the UN system to share their knowledge on successful development approaches in other countries, particularly in areas where we lag, such as reducing poverty and hunger, drop-out rates in the schools, maternal deaths, and HIV/AIDS cases,” Paderanga said.

“Finally, as developing countries struggle to achieve the MDGs, we recognized that it is essential that international development partners also keep their promise. Four decades ago, privileged nations pledged to share a small portion of their gross national income to developing countries,” he added. –Iris C. Gonzales (The Philippine Star)