By Dexter Cabalza

The Philippines has scored three out of eight so far.

Only three out of the eight United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) may be achievable by 2015, according to the September 2011 report from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). (see sidebar below)

 

It just proves that the previous and the current administrations have not done their homeworks, said Prof. Solita “Winnie” Monsod of the University of the Philippines School of Economics and former director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority.

“It’s as if it is just now. There have been yearly reports since 2004 of how we are in the Philippines,” she added.

As one of the signatories of the UN Millennium Declaration of 2000, the country is committed to achieving the MDGs along with other 189 states.

The MDGs is comprised of 8 goals with 21 targets and 48 indicators to be monitored from 1990 to 2015.

Out of 48 indicators, only 29 could be obtained from different government agencies and sectors, eight have no documents and 11, which all belong to Goal 8, are only applicable to least developed countries.

Poverty still high

Despite the decrease of population under the poverty threshold, still 44 provinces in the country belong to the poorest, according to the 2009 NSCB Poverty Statistics.

“With a very slight increase in poverty incidence among population between 2006 and 2009, the probability in 2009 remained ‘medium’,” NCSB secretary-general Romulo Virola said.

Call to education institutions

Four out of five of the education indicators are behind by almost 10 years, according to NSCB.

“We sincerely hope our friends from the DepEd, TESDA and the CHEd will more aggressively heed the call trumpeted by these statistics,” Virola said.

On the other hand, Monsod was wary of the progress of the second goal. “I had a study and if things go the way they are going now, that education for all by 2015 will be achieved only by 2054,” she said.