Something’s gotta give

ACCORDING to Renaud Meyer, UNDP Country Director to the Philippines, the country’s performance in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) remains “generally low,” with barely five years into the deadline.
“Accelerating progress to attain the MDGs requires increased resources to deliver what has been promised to those for whom the MDGs are not a reality,” said Meyer in a public forum promoting human rights, justice, integrity and democracy at the University of the Philippines last week.
192 UN member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve the MDGs by 2015, which are eight international development goals — to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality rate; improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.
Poverty incidence in the country has increased from 30 percent in 2003 to 33 percent in 2006 due to population increase from 80 million to 86 million, said Meyer.
5.2 million Filipino school-age children still do not have access to primary education with 53 percent unable to enroll in the first grade and a majority dropping out of school after reaching the first grade, he further added.
54 percent of pregnancies (1.9 million women) were unplanned so accomplishing MDG 5 on improving maternal health remains a gargantuan task.
11 mothers die due to pregnancy-related causes everyday because access to reproductive health services is still lacking.
126 HIV positive cases have also been reported in 2009 — the highest number of incidences since 1984.
Meager resources due to corruption has been cited by Meyer as the culprit that’s deterring the country from achieving its MDGs.
These figures seem to paint a rather dismal future for the Philippines when it comes to fulfilling these goals.
The proposed yet still highly-contentious Reproductive Health Bill may possibly address goals to improve maternal health and reduce child mortality, but the question remains — is the Philippines culturally ready to achieve these MDGs? If so, what beliefs or values are we willing to sacrifice in order to achieve them?
Time is running out and decisions have to be made. One thing is certain – we can no longer afford to live in the status quo.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Dec 15-17 MDWK p.6)