By Vilma M. Julian
Ten agencies participated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) assessment workshop conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority IX, on March 27, 2012, in Zamboanga City.
The MDGs are eight international development goals that 189 United Nations member-states agreed to achieve by the year 2015. They were agreed and adopted at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. The Philippines is one of the signatories in the UN Millennium Declaration.
The conduct of assessment workshop seeks to support the global review of the MDGs that looks at the status and trends since the signing of the Millennium Declaration in 2000. It also reviews the bottlenecks that have been hindering the implementation of policies and programs that support the attainment of the development goals that cover the following: Goal 1 – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, Goal 2 - Achieve universal primary education, Goal 3 – Promote gender equality and empower women, Goal 4 – Reduce child mortality, Goal 5 – Improve maternal health, Goal 6 – Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, Goal 7 – Ensure environmental sustainability, and Goal 8 – Develop a global partnership for development.
The results of the workshop can be used to address concerns that must be given priority in the budget of agencies concerned. The workshop outputs will serve as guide in the formulation of strategies to address the identified priority concerns. It will also help define the direction to accelerate the pace towards the achievement of the MDGs by the 2015 deadline.
With less than four remaining years to go, our task is to double our efforts in instituting responsive changes, to meet and keep the 2015 promise. (NBE/PIA9/VMJ/NEDA IX)