Millenium Development Goals book launched

THE experience in establishing a localized monitoring system on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in Bohol is now in a book. Far from being just a jumble of facts and figures arranged to qualify to be called data, Making a Difference: Localized Monitoring System on the MDG – The Bohol Experience tells the stories of what the enumerators encountered on the ground, the experiences of the local implementor and its foreign partners as well as the funders, with annexes.

The 178-page book has a foreword from Filomeno Sta. Ana III, coordinator of the Action for Economic Reforms (AER), and messages from Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado, Ambassador and head of the European Union (EU) delegation to the Philippines Jan de Kok, United Nations resident coordinator Zahidul Huque and Director Erlinda Capones of the Natikonal Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Rene Raya, member of AER's Management Collective and project coordinator gave an introduction of the book during the recent launching held at the MetroCentre Hotel in Tagbilaran City .

Emilia Roslinda, executive director of the local partner Process Bohol, Inc., said the project aims at establishing a monitoring system that can accurately determine poverty conditions and improve local governance in order to meet the 2015 “Eradicate Poverty” deadline. Other implementing partners and project supporters are the EU through its Small Projects Facility, Social Watch Philippines (SWP) La Aldea (a Spanish NGO), the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and the n(o)vib Oxfam Netherlands.

The MDG monitoring system is one of Aumentado's pet projects. “I extend my deep gratitude to all our partners in this historic effort to free our people from the clutches of poverty. Never in the province's history has there been an endeavor such as this. Today, we are drawing wide support both nationally and internationally as the whole province seeks to march in step with the MDGs,” he said. “With the monitoring system set up, I am confident that the targets in the next five to 10 years will be achieved, if not, surpassed,” he added.

The eight MDGs to which the Philippines is a signatory are: eradicate extreme hunger and poverty; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases; ensure environment sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.

To note, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was among the world's leaders who met in the World Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from Sept. 14-16 last year. She brought along Aumentado was a speaker at one of the small-group discussions. The leaders agreed to take action on a range of global challenges and reaffirmed the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted five years earlier during the Millennium Summit in September 2000. Bohol , particularly Tubigon, Bilar and Jagna towns are the country's pilot in establishing an MDG monitoring system. The book intends to serve as a guide for the rest of Bohol 's 47 towns as well as other local government units nationwide to emulate. Roslinda admits that the project was behind schedule, but the implementers readily caught up because Bohol already has developed computer software for the purpose through Dr. Nestor Pestelos, then head of the Bohol Poverty Reduction Management Office (BPRMO).

It is called the Local Poverty Reduction Action Program (LPRAP) that, by a click of the mouse, enables a government planner to see which household in the barangay has no potable water or water-sealed toilet yet, among others. This way, the LGU concerned can plan and prioritize which projects to undertake asnd where, given government's meager resources.

For copies of the book, please call Roslinda at Process at (038) 411-3641 or 501-7742, or visit III-A Espuelas Extension, Tagbilaran City.