Legarda urges PNoy: Harness Government To Meet 2015 MDG Deadline

SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA SAID PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III HAS A FRESH START TO EXHAUST GOVERNMENTAL EFFORTS TO MEET THE 2015 DEADLINE OF COMPLYING WITH THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAD DECLARATION, IDENTIFYING CONCISE PLANS AND OPERATIONALIZING ALL THE EFFORTS AND RESOURCES OF GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE THE EIGHT GOALS SET BY THE 189 COUNTRY SIGNATORIES IN THE MILLENIUM DECLARATION OF 2010 OF WHICH THE PHILIPPINES IS A SIGNATORY.
“The task ahead is for the Millenium Development Goals to be integrated into and given top priority in our national development planning efforts.”
Legarda said the Paderanga report, which will be presented by the President to the United Nations during the High Level Plenary Meeting on the MDGs in New York highlights the need to accelerate the efforts to realize the goals that the country is lagging behind in, namely: poverty reduction, education and maternal health.
Paderanga was quoted to have admitted that there is only a “medium” chance poverty will be halved, a “low” chance of decreasing maternal mortality. HIV/AIDS is still spreading and the government also lags in providing basic education as well as safe drinking water and basic sanitation for all.
The Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said this is not enough to meet all eight Millenium Development Goals:
Goal One – Eradicating Poverty and Hunger
Goal Two – Achieve Universal Primary Education
Goal Three- Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women
Goal Four – Reducing Child Mortality
Goal Five – Improve Maternal Health Care
Goal Six – Combating HIV/AIDs, Malaria and other diseases
Goal Seven – Ensuring Environmental Sustainability
Goal Eight – Developing a Global Partnership For Development
Legarda cited that according to the MDG Report Card, there are 20 countries that have made the most overall progress on achieving the MDGs. These are: Benin, Mali, Ethiopia, Gambia, Malawi, Vietnam, Uganda, Nepal, India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Honduras, Mauritania, Ghana, China, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Togo.
“Eleven of the 20 countries on the list are, in fact, among Africa’s poorest countries, such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Gambia, Rwanda and Mali, Why are we lagging behind? We have the laws in place.”
“I have filed Senate Resolution No. 198 to determine the gaps in implementation and find out what still needs to be done to accelerate development.”
Legarda concluded, “With efficient monitoring, localization, and advocacy systems put in place, crucial financing secured, multi-sectoral support mobilized and an enabling environment created with an MDG-responsive policy framework and legislation, we can still catch up to achieve those goals.”