The national government implemented P262.61 billion worth of projects and programs to support its achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Documents obtained from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) show that the amount covered 98 programs and projects in 2014.
Of this, some 60 Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects provided P134.8 billion, or 51 percent, of the total to support specific MDGs, while 38 ODA projects supported several MDGs with P127.8 billion, or 49 percent of the total.
“Eighteen of the 60 ODA programs/projects supporting specific MDGs were geared toward the achievement of Goal 7 [Ensuring Environmental Sustainability]. Goal 1 [Eradicate Extreme Poverty] had the next highest number of programs/projects with 17,” the Neda said.
Data showed that the 18 goal-specific projects for Goal 7, amounted to P65.22 billion, while projects for Goal 1 on eradicating extreme poverty amounted to P63.35 billion.
Based on the previous government report on the MDGs, the Philippines made good progress and on track to achieving the targets in Goal 7 and has a medium probability of meeting the targets in Goal 1.
The least number of goal-specific projects, only three, were implemented to achieve Goal 5 on improving maternal health. These projects amounted to P1.04 billion.
The government also spent the least on goal-specific projects and programs for Goal 6, or combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases. While there were six projects implemented for this goal, these only amounted to P474.14 million.
Based on the government’s data, the country’s progress in meeting Goal 5 is low, and will likely not be achieved given that the number of maternal deaths in the country increased to 221 deaths compared to the 209 baseline in 1990.
In terms of Goal 6, the country’s progress in achieving the indicators is mixed. On HIV prevalence, specifically, the Department of Health (DOH) noted that there was a significant increase in the number of new HIV cases per day to 22, from only one in 2008.
In terms of projects that were implemented to address several MDGs, the most number of projects was six and amounted to P12.54 billion. The six projects addressed Goals 1 and 7.
The highest amount spent for a crosscutting program or project was P51.07 billion, covering only three projects. It aimed to address Goal 4 on Reducing Child Mortality, as well as Goals 5 and 6.
There were also projects that aimed to address all eight MDGs, the P8-billion Philippine Secondary National Road Development Program.
The project with the least amount of P8 million was the Road Improvement and Institutional Development. The project aims to address Goal 3 on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women, as well as Goals 6 and 7.
The Neda earlier said that having a financing plan for projects that aim to address the MDGs was one of the issues in the country’s efforts to achieve the goals.
This is something that the government intends to address in the world’s Post-2015 Agenda, or the Sustainable Development Goals, which will be adopted in September 2015.
National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Assistant Director General Rosemarie Edillon said the government will start work on the SDGs by January 2016 through the creation of the financial plan.
Based on the country’s experience, Edillon said that public spending on social services between 2000 and 2003 contracted on an annual basis. Between 2004 to 2010, the government’s social spending only increased 1.1 percent in real per capita terms.
Under the current administration, Edillon said social spending increased around 13 percent in terms of real capita spending year-on-year.