Philippines MDG Progress Report 2010

Philippines Progress Report on the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
2010

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Philippines Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals 2010

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. Overview
Upon entering the 21st century, leaders of various shocks including economic, food,
from both developed and developing and energy crises as well as increased
countries gathered and agreed to achieve frequency and intensity of natural calamities
a set of concrete, measurable development that are associated with climate change.
objectives by 2015 through the adoption of
the Millennium Declaration1. These objec- The Philippines is among the many
tives, known as the Millennium Development developing countries that is continuously
Goals (MDGs), are associated with the exerting efforts to be on track with the
United Nations (UN) development agenda well-defined MDG targets. With only five
and are focused on addressing extreme years left before the target date, several of
poverty, lack of gainful employment oppor- the targets seem to be far from reach for
tunities, hunger incidence, lower access to the Philippines primarily due to a number
education, gender inequality, prevalence of challenges it has faced in the last couple
of diseases (particularly among children of years that contributed to the slow pace
and women), environmental degradation, of progress. This report aims to present the
among others. progress made for each of the goals over
the past two decades (1990 baseline), the
In the past decade, a number of summits challenges encountered along the way,
and meetings were held to monitor prog- and the concrete set of actions needed
ress towards the achievement of the MDGs. to keep the Philippines on track with, or
While there were a number of success even accelerate, its progress towards the
stories and remarkable progress in some achievement of the MDGs.
countries, obstacles and challenges were
ever present that caused some countries, Consultations with government agencies,
especially the developing ones, to lag academe and research institutions, civil
behind. Some of these challenges include society, and international donor organiza-
shortfall in the level of investment, ineffective tions were undertaken in the course of the
government policies, and lack of commit- preparation of this report. Workshops were
ment, among others. These challenges have held in May 2010 and July 2010 to solicit
been aggravated by the combined effects comments from the various stakeholders.

1
General Assembly resolution 55/2
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Figure 1. GNP and GDP growth rates (%), 2001-2009

Source: NIA (January 2010), NSCB

1.1 Macroeconomic developments to other countries. The Philippines started
to feel its effects in the second half of 2008
Over this decade, the Philippine economy and the effects lingered till 2009. This has
posted significant economic growth. Gross led to a slowdown in economic growth
National Product (GNP) grew on the in 2009. Despite the global crisis, remit-
average, by 5 percent during the period tances from abroad continued to increase.
2000-2009. Growth peaked in 2007 when Nevertheless, the 5 percent growth in remit-
the economy grew at 7.5 percent. It even tances recorded in 2009 was significantly
posted a growth of 6.2 percent in 2008, the lower than the 13 percent growth registered
year when the country experienced the food in 2007 and 2008. This led to GNP growing
and fuel price shocks (Figure 1). Food prices by 3 percent only while Gross Domestic
increased in 2008 by 13.6 percent, higher Product (GDP) only grew by 0.9 percent.
than the food inflation rate of 3.3 percent in
2007. Fuel prices also went up significantly, Recent data suggest that the economy is
with prices increasing by 17 percent in 2008, on its way to recovery. GDP and GNP grew
more than five times the fuel inflation rate by 7.3 percent and 9.5 percent, respec-
of 3.3 percent in 2007. While prices of rice tively, during the first quarter of 2010 with
and fuel products have gone down from all sectors, except for agriculture posting
their peak in 2008, the prices have not gone significant growth. The rebound was
down to pre-shock level. spurred by the global economic recovery,
election-related stimuli and the continuous
The global financial crisis started in July growth of remittances from overseas Filipino
2007 in the United States and quickly spread workers (OFWs).
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In addition to these economic and finan- et al. (2010) were considered agricultural
cial shocks, the manifestations of climate households. With majority of the poor
change have become more visible. The households engaged in agriculture, this
Philippines had already started witnessing would significantly impact on the poverty
some of the manifestations of climate situation of the country.
change. The country’s weather bureau,
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and In addition, there were a number of
Astronomical Services Administration extreme weather events reported in recent
(PAGASA), estimated that there had been a years, including the devastating typhoons
significant increase in annual mean temper- Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009. Furthermore,
ature from 1951 to 2006. It also estimated a typhoons are becoming less predictable,
significant decrease in the number of cold which visit the country even in times when
days and cool nights as well as significant these are least expected, e.g. November
increase in the frequency of hot days and or December.
warm nights from 1961 to 2003. PAGASA
also projected more frequent and intensi- These developments pose additional
fied El Niño and La Niña episodes that will challenges in meeting the MDGs.
induce more extreme weather events such
as typhoons, floods, landslides, droughts, 1.2 Achievements so far
among others. Based on historical records,
there were relatively more El Niño and La Poverty and hunger
Niña episodes in recent decades than in
earlier decades. Poverty

Because of increased temperature, Subsistence and poverty incidence
changes in rainfall patterns, and increased had consistently declined from 1991 to
frequency and intensity of extreme climate 2003. Access to basic social services has
events, risk in agricultural production generally improved. However, income
will be intensified. Two of the sharpest distribution across regions remains largely
drops in volume of production and Gross unequal, even worse than some of its Asian
Value-Added (GVA) in agriculture were neighbors. Also, significant proportion of
experienced during two of the worst El Niño population has remained poor over the past
episodes recorded in history (1982-1983 two decades. In 2006, poverty incidence
and 1997-1998). The ongoing El Niño among population slightly went up. With the
episode has wreaked havoc on agriculture aftermath of the food and fuel price hikes
and the National Disaster Coordinating (in 2008), global financial and economic
Council (NDCC) has estimated crop losses crisis (which reached the country in the latter
at over PhP12 billion. During the period part of 2008) and natural calamities like the
2003-2006, around 56.4 percent of poor destructive typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng
households had more than fifty percent of (in October 2009), followed by the recent
the total income derived from agricultural El Nino phenomenon (that emerged in the
sources/activities. However, 63.3 percent latter part of 2009), further worsening of the
of those tagged as chronic poor by Reyes poverty situation might be expected in 2009.
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Hunger in its proportion. In 2008, however, the
proportion of malnourished children aged
Because of poverty, there might have 5 and below increased by 1.6 percentage
been a reduction in households’ capacity to points. This reversal in the trend in malnutri-
meet their basic food and non-food needs. tion prevalence among children might be
This might have been the reason why more an area of concern.
than half of the households in the country
are still not able to meet the nutritional Employment
requirements of their members. However,
the 12.5 percent decrease in the proportion One of the factors that might have
of households with per capita intake below contributed to the increase in poverty
100 percent dietary energy requirement incidence is the lack of gainful employ-
from 1993 (69.4%) to 2003 (56.9%) can ment opportunities, especially among
already be considered as a good step those belonging in vulnerable groups. In
towards attainment of the 2015 target. recent years, labor productivity has been
Similarly, there had been an improvement declining. Employment-to-population ratio
in terms of combating malnutrition among for the ‘15 years and over’ age group,
children aged 5 and below from 1990 to particularly among women and youth,
2005, as evidenced by a 10 percent drop had also been declining up to 2008. It

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somehow recovered in 2009 but the rate However, primarily due to poor targeting,
of increase appears to be low. Aside from shortages in classrooms and teachers still
that, more than a fifth (22.6%) of the coun- persist in many areas as evidenced by high
try’s employed population has been living pupil-classroom and pupil-teacher ratios,
below US$1 per day in 2006, based on the respectively. This implies that the education
UN MDG Database. Moreover, although system, given its current resources, might
proportion of own-account and contributing still not be ready to welcome and maintain
family workers in total employment dropped a higher number of students.
by almost 9 percent from 1992 to 2008, it
is clear that nearly half of Filipino workers Gender equality
are still engaged in vulnerable employment.
In terms of education, females have
Meanwhile, the deployed OFWs consistently maintained higher rates of
continued to grow rapidly. The number cohort survival and completion rates than
of OFWs deployed in 2008 totalled 1.23 males, from elementary to tertiary level,
million workers, which is a 14.7 percent since 1990s. There has also been gender
increase from the previous year’s 1.08 disparity (in favor of females) in terms of
million. While this implies higher net factor participation rates in both secondary and
income from abroad, there might be a need tertiary education. However, it should
for the government to address issues like be noted that females and males have
brain drain and deskilling of professionals relatively equal participation rates at the
who accepted low-skilled jobs abroad. elementary level. One of the most cited
Concerns about OFWs’ welfare and protec- reasons behind this gender disparity in
tion while working outside the country as education is that males tend to get out of
well as its social cost to Filipino families are the system because they either need to work
important issues that the government and to help augment their household income or
the Philippine society have to face. they just had lower motivation in going to
school than females.
Education
In recent years, women have become
Rates of participation, cohort survival more empowered through political and
and completion at the elementary level economic participation. Women are
have marked improvements in recent years, becoming more visible as leaders and thus
although at a very slow pace. This might more involved in policy decisionmaking,
have been attributed to efforts made by both at the national and local levels. There
the government through provision of free are also more female workers who have
and compulsory elementary education been deployed abroad to work for the
and augmentation of budget for school welfare of their families. More often than
resources. From 2004 to 2009, a total not, however, they tend to accept jobs that
of 75,584 new classrooms have been are usually not commensurate with their
constructed and 52,536 new teacher items educational attainment such as domestic
were created in response to the growing workers, caregivers, entertainers, clerical
demand in the public school system. staffer or factory workers.
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Health child health. Some of these interventions
include breastfeeding and complementary
Child mortality feeding, micronutrient supplementation,
immunization of both children and mothers,
The country has been performing well in integrated management of sick children,
terms of reducing child mortality over the child injury prevention and control, birth
past two decades. Infant mortality rate had spacing, and proper hygiene. Meanwhile,
gone down from 57 deaths per 1,000 live child mortality is relatively high in rural areas
births in 1990 to 25 in 2008 while under-five where women have no or little education
mortality rate had declined from 80 in 1990 and/or income poor.
to 34 in 2008. The major factor that contrib-
uted to this remarkable achievement is the Maternal health
set of effective and well-defined child health
and related programs carried out by the Maternal mortality ratio had been
Department of Health (DOH), in collabora- declining over the past two decades; from
tion with the local government units (LGUs). 209 per 100,000 live births in 1993 to 172
The programs offer a range of interventions in 1998 to 162 in 2006. It seems, though,
that are appropriate at various life cycle that the rate of change is relatively low. This
stages, from maternal care to care of the might be attributed to the fact that a signifi-
newborn up to integrated management of cant proportion of births were still delivered
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at home and attended, not by skilled health Malaria morbidity and mortality rates, on
professionals but, by the so-called hilots, the other hand, declined from 1990 to 2009;
especially in areas where health facilities from 123 cases and 1.5 deaths per 100,000
with services of skilled health professionals population to 22 and 0.02, respectively.
are inaccessible. The continuous decline in morbidity and
mortality due to malaria may be attributed
Meanwhile, contraceptive prevalence to the continued implementation of the
rate has remained at 50 percent in recent Malaria Control Program by the DOH, in
years, out of which only 34 percent use collaboration with the LGUs, non-govern-
modern contraceptives, based on recent ment organizations, and communities using
surveys. Contraceptive use is lowest among the disease-free zone initiative.
the poorer families. This, and access to
reproductive health in general, especially Meanwhile, there had also been improve-
among poor women, still faces a lot of ments in the indicators for tuberculosis in
challenges including financial, political as recent years. Specifically, targets for case
well as cultural. detection rate and treatment success rate
had already been achieved in 2004 and
Global studies show that as much as 90 have been sustained since then. Cure rate,
percent of maternal deaths could be averted on the other hand, is still slightly below the
through a three-pronged strategy of: skilled 85 percent national target but it would be
attendants at birth; access to basic and
comprehensive emergency obstetric and
neo-natal care referral system; and family
planning services (informed choice).

Prevalence of infectious diseases

The number of new HIV reported cases
had rapidly increased beginning 2007. By
the end of 2009, there were 2 new cases
of HIV infection reported per day, and in
April 2010, up to 5 new cases of HIV infec-
tion per day has been reported. Relatively
low coverage of prevention interventions,
together with increased risky behavior and
high level of misconceptions about HIV
transmission, and poor attitude on use
of protection on the disease, might have
contributed to this trend. In terms of national
prevalence rate, HIV has remained below
one percent although some areas have
reported more than one percent among its
most-at-risk populations (MARPs).
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feasible. All these improvements may be in annual consumption of ozone-depleting
attributed to the strengthened implementa- substances; growing number of registered
tion of the National Tuberculosis Control hazardous waste generators and solid
Program. Specifically, the adoption of the waste disposal facilities; increase in the
DOTS strategy since 1996 has contributed proportion of population having access to
to the achievement of the program targets. safe water and sanitary toilet facilities; and,
decline in the proportion of population who
Environmental sustainability are living in makeshift housing.

Notwithstanding the degradation in On the contrary, proportion of those living
some of the country’s natural resources as informal settlers, particularly in urban
such as coastal and marine ecosystem areas, had slightly gone up from 1991 to
because of climate change and other 2006. This is expected to rise further from
factors, there have also been some notable 2007 to 2010 due to threats posed by
achievements in terms of environmental climate change and some other shocks like
sustainability in recent years. These include the recent global financial and economic
the following: increase in the number of crisis, which have significant impact on
protected wildlife species; significant drop the properties, livelihood and incomes
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of urban population. The government, Financing
however, has been continuously crafting
and implementing programs and policies Economic uncertainties and fiscal
that would address these problems in constraints have led to the decline in LGU
informal settlements, water and sanitation, spending on social services. However,
and other matters pertaining to environ- primarily due to strong advocacy for the
mental sustainability. MDGs, programs, activities and projects
(PAPs) that are MDG-related have recently
Partnerships for development been prioritized in budget preparation,
both at the national and local levels. The
As a way to expand its networks with country was also able to secure funding
other countries, the Philippines has been for the MDGs from various international
working on further liberalizing its trade donors such as the United Nations and
system and making the investment climate Government of Spain. Another notable
favorable to foreign investors. However, achievement was the tool developed by
the country needs to lower the volume of its the Department of the Interior and Local
loans, narrow its fiscal deficit, and improve Government (DILG) that can assist LGUs
its fiscal system. in spending for MDG-related PAPs.

The initiative of making low-cost yet Some priorities of action were high-
quality essential medicines accessible lighted to further improve financing for
to Filipino people, most especially the the MDGs. First, there is a need to sustain
indigents, had been making progress for initiatives in prioritizing MDG-related
about a decade already. The government PAPs in the MTPDP and the budget.
has been proactive in developing strate- Accordingly, immediate implementation
gies toward implementation of laws and and institutionalization of MDG budget
programs that would support this initiative. and expenditures monitoring should be
Interestingly, supports from private institu- carried out.
tions, local communities and other sectors
contribute a lot in achieving this progress. Second, the government should continue
improving transparency and accountability
In terms of information and communications in the implementation of MDG-related PAPs.
technology (ICT), signiﬁcant progress had Absorptive capacities of agencies implementing
already been achieved in this sector. Fixed MDG-related PAPs should be improved
telephone line, cellular mobile telephone and through enhancement in the processes of
internet subscriptions have all been growing procurement, auditing and accounting.
rapidly over the past two decades. One of the
challenges, though, has been the disparity in Third, the government must continue using
terms of geographical reach of ICT services. cost-efficient modes of service delivery to
In response to this, efforts have already been avoid wastage of resources. In relation to
exerted to bring ICT services to the unserved this, design and targeting system of some
and underserved areas. PAPs should be improved.

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Fourth, legislative and administrative Monitoring System for LGUs as well as
reforms should be pursued to improve tax ensure that indicators at the local level are
policy and administration. consistent with those at the national level.
Meanwhile, monitoring efforts of various
Fifth, there is a need to strengthen the sectors, apart from the government, should
commitments and capacities of LGUs as also be encouraged to further strengthen
direct providers/implementers of PAPs. the monitoring system of LGUs.

Sixth, public-private sector partnership for Advocacy and localization
financing and implementing MDG-related
PAPs should be enhanced. In recent years, a number of initiatives
have been made to advocate and localize
Lastly, there might be a need for the the MDGs to increase awareness on
government to reiterate its proposal on the MDGs among various stakeholders
debt swap for the MDGs so as to help it and mobilize their support for programs
re-channel its resources from debt repay- and projects toward the achievement of
ment to PAPs for the MDGs. the MDGs. Some of these remarkable
achievements include the following: (1)
Monitoring issuance of DILG Memorandum Circular
(MC) No. 2004-152 or the “Guide to Local
Over the past two decades, a number of Government Units in the Localization of the
MDG-related policies have already been MDGs”; (2) DBM’s policy guidelines and
formulated by the NEDA, DILG, and the procedures in preparation of national and
National Statistical Coordination Board local budget proposals, which emphasize
(NSCB), among others, to institutionalize programs, projects and activities in support
and improve the monitoring of the MDGs. of the MDGs; (3) creation of a Special
These policies have facilitated the increase Committee on the MDGs in the House of
in awareness of the government and other Representatives; (4) formulation of sub-
stakeholders at the local and national levels national MDG progress reports for the
on the MDGs. Moreover, the Community- country’s 17 regions; (5) crafting of the
Based Monitoring System (CBMS) has been MDG Framework for Business Action; (6)
implemented in 59 provinces and this has pilot formulation of Provincial MDG Reports
provided data for many of the MDG indica- for 10 provinces, undertaken by the CBMS
tors. There are some challenges, however, Network Coordinating Team with support
which include the following: effective from NEDA and UNDP; (7) encouragement
operationalization of MDG-related policies; of support from private companies through
timely collection and availability of national the Business and the MDGs Campaign;
and disaggregated data; increased aware- (8) advocacy for donor support for the
ness on the MDGs among LGUs, private MDGs through the Philippine Development
sector and civil society. Forum (PDF); and (9) participation in the
Stand-Up Take Action (SUTA) against
In response to these challenges, there is poverty campaign of the United Nations
a need to revisit and enhance the MDG Millennium Campaign (UNMC).
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Despite all these efforts, a lot of work mortality rate among children aged 5 and
remains to be done to generate support below, reversing the incidence of and death
for the MDGs and ensure its integration in rate associated with malaria, increasing
local development. First, the government tuberculosis case detection and cure rates,
needs to invest in improving capacities of expanding access to basic sanitation, and
LGUs through problem-solving, involving providing equal opportunities for girls in the
local participation, managerial know-how, area of education. In fact, the country had
and transparent mechanisms. already surpassed the targets on improving
access to sanitation, increasing tubercu-
Second, capacity building on MDG moni- losis case detection rate and providing
toring and preparation of MDG progress equal educational opportunities for girls.
reports using CBMS can be extended to the However, national averages tend to hide
other provinces. large discrepancies across geographic
location with many far-flung areas still
Third, other institutions, such as the DILG- remaining unserved. On the other hand, it
Local Government Academy (LGA) and seems that more efforts need to be exerted
the Leagues of Provinces, Municipalities in achieving universal primary education,
and Cities, may also be tapped to extend improving maternal health, combating HIV
assistance along improving capacities of and AIDS, as well as reducing the incidence
LGUs on how to link the MDGs with local of poverty and hunger.
planning and budgeting.
Poverty incidence among population
Fourth, the lead agencies per MDG area had consistently been declining from
should be encouraged to work in partner- 1991 (45.3%) to 2003 (30%) but suddenly
ship with the DILG to strengthen localization increased in 2006 (32.9%). The poverty
efforts. situation in 2009 might have been wors-
ened by the combined effects of the food
Fifth, the Philippine Information Agency and fuel price hikes, global financial crisis
(PIA) could also be encouraged to strengthen (which reached the country in the latter
its efforts in advocating the MDGs. part of 2008) and natural calamities such
as the devastating typhoons Ondoy and
Lastly, convergence of activities and Pepeng that hit the country during the last
sharing of resources may be done towards quarter of 2009, followed by the occur-
a more efficient delivery of advocacy rence of the recent El Niño phenomenon
initiatives. (which emerged during the latter part of
2009). Halving the 1991 baseline figure by
1.3 Pace of progress 2015 might therefore be more challenging
this time. Similarly, subsistence incidence
Table 1 shows the pace of progress of among population had been following
the Philippines towards the achievement of a declining trend from 1991 (24.3%) to
the MDGs. Based on the estimated prob- 2003 (13.5%) but slightly went up in 2006
abilities of attaining the targets, the country (14.5%). Since the 2015 target (12.2%) is
has been performing well in reducing somewhat closer to the 2006 figure, there
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Table 1. Pace of progress of the Philippines in terms of attaining the MDG targets

Pace of Probability of
P
MDG goals, targets and iindicators
targets
t ndicators
c progress attaining the
target

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Target 1.A: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than
one dollar a day
Proportion of population below poverty threshold 0.88 MEDIUM
Proportion of population below food threshold 1.28 HIGH
Target 1. C: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Prevalence of underweight children under-five years of age 0.67 MEDIUM
Proportion of households with per capita intake below 100 percent dietary energy requirement 0.79 MEDIUM

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Target 2.A: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete
a full course of primary schooling
Elementary education net enrolment rate 0.00 LOW
Elementary education cohort survival rate 0.30 LOW
Elementary education completion rate 0.29 LOW

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Target 3.A: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and
in all levels of education no later than 2015
Ratio of girls to boys in elementary education participation rate HIGH
Ratio of girls to boys in secondary education participation rate HIGH
Ratio of girls to boys in elementary education cohort survival rate HIGH
Ratio of girls to boys in secondary education cohort survival rate HIGH
Ratio of girls to boys in elementary education completion rate HIGH
Ratio of girls to boys in secondary education completion rate HIGH

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Target 4.A: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate
Infant mortality rate 1.17 HIGH
Under-five mortality rate 1.20 HIGH

Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Target 5.A: Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio
Maternal mortality ratio 0.47 LOW
Target 5.B: Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health
Contraceptive prevalence rate 0.27 LOW

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases
Target 6. A: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS
HIV prevalence among 15 years and over 0.02 LOW
Proportion of population aged 15-24 with comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS 0.03 LOW
Target 6.B: Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDs for all those who need it
Proportion of population with advanced HIV infection with access to antiretroviral drugs 0.72 MEDIUM
Target 6. C: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major
diseases
Malaria morbidity rate 2.01 HIGH
Malaria mortality rate 2.37 HIGH
Tuberculosis case detection rate 3.82 HIGH
Tuberculosis cure rate 2.53 HIGH

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Target 7. C: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking
water and basic sanitation
Proportion of population with access to safe water 0.82 MEDIUM
Proportion of population with access to sanitary toilet facilities 1.68 HIGH
42

is still a high probability of achieving this and completion rates, progress have also
target. been at a slower pace. Cohort survival
rate had been relatively stable from 1990
Data on nutrition seem to tie up with to 1997 but suddenly went down in 1998.
income poverty data. Proportion of malnour- It rose again in 2001 at 69.1 percent and
ished children had been going down from ended up at 75.4 percent in 2008. Similarly,
34.5 percent in 1990 to 24.6 percent in 2005 there has not been much improvement in
but went up to 26.2 percent in 2008. Similar terms of elementary education comple-
to poverty incidence, there is a medium tion rate. The figure only increased by
rate of progress in terms of halving the 5.7 percentage points over the past two
baseline figure for malnutrition prevalence. decades; from 67.6 percent in 1990 to 73.3
Proportion of households with per capita percent in 2008.
intake below 100 percent dietary energy
requirement, on the other hand, declined The aim of Goal 3 is to ensure equal
from 69.4 percent in 1993 to 56.9 percent opportunities for girls and women. In the
in 2003. This 12.5 percent improvement case of the Philippines, girls and women
within the ten-year period is considered have not been lagging behind boys and
small since almost twice of this (22.2%) is men in the area of education. In fact,
still required to be able to meet the target school participation, cohort survival and
(34.7%) by 2015. completion rates (both at the primary
and secondary levels) for girls have been
In terms of primary education, the country consistently higher than for boys, although
has been underperforming over the past the disparities have not been as much.
decade. The rate of progress with respect Girls are disadvantaged only in terms of
to elementary education participation rate elementary education participation rate
has been estimated to be low. From 1991 to during the 1990s.
1999, the net enrolment rate in elementary
education had been rising from 85 to 97 Another area where the country has
percent but had been consistently going been performing well is on reducing child
down from 2000 to 2006 (97 to 83%). It mortality. Infant mortality rate substantially
started to rise again in 2007 but the rate declined from 57 infants per 1,000 live births
of increase is relatively low. Based on the in 1990 to 33.6 in 1993. The rate slightly
current trend, it seems that it is still far from rose to 35.1 in 1998 then it steadily went
the 2015 target. In terms of cohort survival down until it landed at 25 in 2008. Based

Notes on Table 1:
Computation of pace of progress is based on UNSIAP methodology;
Pace of progress = Actual rate of progress / Required rate of progress
where: Actual rate of progress = [(latest data / baseline data) – 1] / no. of years elapsed (for negative indicators)
= [(latest data – baseline data) / (100 – baseline data)] / no. of years elapsed (for positive indicators)
Required rate of progress = [(target rate / baseline data) – 1] / no. of years covered
Probability of attaining the target: LOW if pace of progress is less than 0.5; MEDIUM if pace of progress is between 0.5 and 0.9; and, HIGH
if pace of progress is greater than 0.9

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on the trend, there is a high probability that with advanced HIV infection with access to
the 2015 target (at 19 infants per 1,000 live antiretroviral drugs.
births) will be achieved. Under-five mortality
rate declined from 80 deaths per 1,000 live The country has also been performing
births in 1990 to 54.2 in 1993 then it consis- very well in terms of reversing the incidence
tently went down to 34 in 2008. Targeting of and death rates associated with malaria
a rate of 26.7 by 2015 would therefore be and tuberculosis. Malaria morbidity rate
easier, especially if appropriate interven- had consistently declined from 123 cases
tions would be effectively implemented. per 100,000 population in 1990 to 20 in
2009. Similarly, mortality rate due to malaria
On the other hand, improvement in decreased from 1.5 deaths per 100,000
maternal health is one area of concern. cases in 1990 to 0.02 in 2009. Interestingly,
Maternal mortality ratio had been declining the target for tuberculosis case detection
from 209 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to rate has been achieved since 2004. From
172 in 1998. However, the ratio went down 60 percent in 2000, the rate increased to 70
to only 162 per 100,000 live births in 2006. percent in 2004, which is the national target
Based on this trend, it seems that 2015 for 2015. Since then, the rate has been
target of 52 per 100,000 live births is still maintained above the target. Tuberculosis
relatively far. Similarly, the country has not cure rate increased from 73 percent in 2000
been performing well in terms of contracep- to 82 percent in 2004. It slightly went down
tive prevalence rate. The figure increased to 81 percent in 2005 but recovered at 83
from 40 percent in 1993 to 51 percent in percent the following year. Cure rate then
2008. The pace of progress over the period declined to 82 percent in 2007 and ended
has been relatively low considering that the up with 79 percent in 2008. Based on the
2015 target is 80 percent. recent trend, the 2015 target of 85 percent
is relatively close.
Halting the spread of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Another area with fast pace of progress is
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) the expansion of access to basic sanitation.
appears to be challenging for the country Proportion of population with access to
as the estimated prevalence rate among sanitary toilet facilities had been increasing
HIV-infected population who are 15 years from 71.8 percent in 1991 to 88.6 percent
old and over increased from 0.0014 percent in 2008, surpassing already the 2015 target
in 2006 to 0.007 percent in 2009 based on of 85.9 percent in 2002. Proportion of
blood donor data. These figures, however, population with access to safe water, on
have remained within the 2010 Philippine the other hand, has posted a medium rate
target of less than one percent. On the other of progress. It had been increasing from
hand, the country has not been performing 73.8 percent in 1991 to 81.4 percent in
well in terms of increasing the proportion of 2008. Based on the current trend, it seems
youth with comprehensive correct knowl- that the 2015 target (85.9%) is feasible.
edge of HIV and AIDS. Meanwhile, there However, these favorable results hide the
has been medium rate of progress in terms fact that almost one in five (or 15.73 million)
of increasing the proportion of population persons are still unable to access safe water
44

and one in ten (or 9.62 million) persons do budget of the Department of Education
not have access to sanitary toilet facilities. (DepEd) has to be further increased. Also,
resource allocation system has to be
1.4 Ways forward improved to address wide regional dispari-
ties. This could be done by improving the
Poverty database system and conducting school
mapping to be able to effectively track the
Reversal in the poverty trend in recent years resource-constrained areas. Alongside the
notwithstanding the implementation of a increase in budget for school resources,
number of poverty reduction programs posts cost-saving, non-conventional and flexible
a challenge to the government. One of the approaches should be strongly pursued
most important approaches in responding to improve access to primary education.
to this challenge is the convergence of all These approaches include the following:
the anti-poverty interventions to be able Instructional Management by Parents,
to strengthen the desired impact of the Community and Teachers (IMPACT)
programs. The government should also system; Modified In-School Out-of-School
sustain and scale up the delivery of proven Approach (MISOSA); and, Alternative
good practices and successful programs on Learning System (ALS). Addressing the high
social protection, microﬁnance, asset reform, drop-out rate, especially among the early
livelihood, among others. However, given graders, and the inability of students to
the limited budget of most of the programs, cope with school works might also require
proper targeting system should be adopted. strengthening of pedagogical skills of
This is to ensure that greater resources are teachers and inclusion of preschool educa-
channeled to target beneﬁciaries, particularly tion in the basic education cycle. Various
those in poor and underserved areas. There social programs such as 4Ps should also be
is also a need for the government to provide sustained, in conjunction with the DepEd’s
adequate safety nets to poor households, initiatives, to address the non-school factors
especially those considered chronic poor, to contributing to the non-attendance to
prevent them from falling into poverty or for schools. Meanwhile, the government might
them to recover more quickly from economic also need to aggressively move the Basic
and natural shocks. Implementation of Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA)
time-bound emergency public infrastructure- forward primarily through the School-Based
based employment programs, skills training Management (SBM).
programs and other support programs might
enable households to augment their income Gender equality
in times of crises.
Although gender disparity (in favor of
Education girls) in the area of education has not been
as much, the government should give more
In order to uphold its mandate of attention in improving education indicators
providing free and compulsory primary for boys. To enable more women to partici-
education and at the same time respond pate in the political arena, the government
to the growing school-age population, should intensify capacity development
45

programs such as skills training and develop- One of the priorities for action to address
ment. In terms of addressing gender-based these concerns is to ensure that MNCHN
violence, on the other hand, some possible strategy will be integrated in the Municipal
interventions could also be implemented: (i) Investment Plan for Health (MIPH) as well
strengthening awareness on gender-based as the Provincial Investment Plan for Health
violence at the local level; (ii) strengthening (PIPH). The government should also exert
coordination between the local government more efforts in improving the quality of
units (LGUs) and the PNP; and, (iii) allocating pre-natal, natal and post-natal services
resources to government agencies working being provided in local public health facili-
on violence against women. Moreover, ties. This includes upgrading of manage-
the legal framework for the protection rial and technical capabilities of health
and improved welfare of overseas Filipino workers, improvement of monitoring and
workers (OFWs), particularly the female evaluation as well as the database system,
ones, should be strengthened. Meanwhile, and strengthening of advocacy activities.
sex-disaggregated data should be made Furthermore, there is also a need to continu-
available as these are deemed useful in ously advocate for legislative support and
identifying gender issues and in planning for strengthen linkages with the private sector/
more appropriate interventions. non-government organizations (NGOs)/
civil society in order to resolve the problems
Child mortality on financing and accessibility of maternal
care services.
Despite remarkable progress in reducing
child mortality, some actions might still Related to the improvement in maternal
need to be undertaken to address regional health is the improvement in access to
disparities. First, there is a need for LGUs to family planning (FP) services. Given the
better manage their child health interven- low practice of family planning, there might
tions by improving their targeting system. be a need to expand informed choice by
LGUs should be trained and adequate pushing for the Informed Choice Perspective
resources should be provided to improve Responsible Parenthood – Family Planning
their database system. The government also (RP-FP) Program. Together with parent
needs to strengthen advocacy campaigns education on adolescent and sexual
for child health programs such as that on reproductive health (ASRH), inclusion of
breastfeeding. Moreover, LGUs need to fast- adolescent reproductive health (ARH) in
track and strengthen Maternal, Neonatal the education curriculum, both in public
and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) and private, is also deemed necessary.
strategy to ensure proper pre-natal, natal Designing of new financing mechanisms for
and post-natal care for pregnant women. FP/RH such as Performance-Based Grants
(PBGs) for LGUs as well as expansion of the
Maternal health Contraceptive Self-Reliance Strategy (CSR)
have to be pursued. Meanwhile, there is also
Although a number of maternal health a need for strong political will to promote
initiatives have already been undertaken, a continuing advocacy effort in legislating
maternal health concerns still remain. a comprehensive population management
46

and reproductive health policy through the preservation of natural resources should be
consolidated Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. established. A multi-party audit of environ-
mental statistics should also be conducted.
Combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and There is also a need to strengthen business
other diseases sector’s involvement through alignment of
its corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS activities.
requires some concrete set of actions. First,
there is a need to build capacities to identify A clear national policy on water and sani-
and locate the sources of new HIV infec- tation (watsan) and a program managed
tions and evaluate prevention coverage by a lead institution is deemed necessary
and impact. Effective and comprehensive in achieving universal coverage. Watsan
package of interventions for HIV most- service providers should be regulated to
at-risk populations (MARPs) as well as ensure accountability to consumers with
migrant workers should also be designed expanded access, efficient use of revenues
and implemented. There is also a need to and improved service quality. Investment on
mobilize resources and engage communi- this sector should also be increased.
ties in controlling the epidemic.
Moreover, public-private partnership
To prevent the spread of diseases in should be pursued with appropriate
general, service provision should also incentives for private sector participation,
be strengthened. This implies upgrading particularly in the housing sector. The
of managerial and technical capabilities issue on non-availability of land suited
among health workers, improvement of for housing should also be addressed
health and laboratory facilities, provision of by coming up with innovative ways on
timely program requirements, strengthening addressing the issue of tenurial security
of program monitoring and evaluation, apart from home ownership. Policies and
and pursuing advocacy on health-seeking development practices in urban develop-
behavior. Moreover, strengthening of ment and housing should be addressed.
partnerships with LGUs, civil society orga- LGUs should prepare comprehensive land
nizations, the private sector, among others, use plans based on updated thematic maps
might also be necessary. that take into account risk-sensitive land
use planning. There might also be a need
Environmental sustainability for the creation of the housing microfinance
network.
To address the issue of environmental
sustainability, there is a need to revisit Partnerships for development
implementation of environmental laws and
encourage initiatives for compliance and In order to develop open, rule-based,
penalties for violators. Efforts of various predictable, and non-discriminatory trading
stakeholders in environmental advocacy and financial systems, some strategies might
should also be mobilized. In addition, need to be implemented: (i) strengthening
enabling conditions for the protection and of micro, small and medium enterprises
47

(MSMEs); (ii) proactive investment promo- when giving prescriptions that will limit the
tion to countries other than the United choices of patients, especially the poor
States; and, (iii) diversification and expan- ones. Pharmacists and dispensers in the
sion of market for exports. retail outlets should also educate and assist
some patients on their choices. Meanwhile,
To address the debt problems of the there is also a need for the Food and Drug
country, tax revenue collection should be Administration (FDA) to hire more qualified
improved. There should also be improve- regulation officers, establish additional
ment in the efficiency and transparency facilities or satellite offices, and procure
in public spending. Selection process of new state-of-the-art equipment.
loan-funded programs and projects should
also be strengthened. In terms of information and communica-
tions technology (ICT) development, an
Apart from upgrading of patent rights enabling socioeconomic and political
and business system, the issue of inacces- environment should be created to attract
sibility of essential medicines should also more IT investments. There should also be
be addressed. The high-quality essential close coordination between the executive
medicines should be available at affordable and legislative branches of the government
prices, especially in far-flung areas. Thus, on proposed ICT-related bills. More efforts
monopolies and oligopolies in the market should also be exerted to bring ICT services
should be eliminated. Health professionals to the unserved and underserved areas.
should also avoid brand preferences

2. Progress over
the past decade
This chapter presents the trends and
inequality analysis made for the key indi-
cators of each goal, assesses the progress
made over the past decade, identifies key
bottlenecks, and presents some policies
and programs needed to keep track with,
and possibly accelerate the current pace
of progress.

48

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
and faster household formation, poverty
incidence worsened from 30.0 percent in
2003 to 32.9 percent in 2006. Although
2.1.1 Target 1.A: Halve between 1990 there was economic growth during the
and 2015, the proportion of people period, this was not enough to more than
whose income is less than the poverty offset the rise in poverty incidence. During
threshold the period 2003-2006, while average
annual incomes increased by 16.2 percent,
Status and trends inflation rose by 21.2 percent. Furthermore,
with the aftermath of the food and fuel price
Generally, poverty in the Philippines is hikes, global financial crisis and natural
on a declining trend. Between 1991 to calamities such as typhoons Ondoy and
2003, poverty incidence (or the proportion Pepeng and the recent El Niño phenom-
of individuals whose annual income falls enon, a further worsening of the poverty
below the annual poverty threshold) has situation might be expected in the 2009
been reduced at an annual average rate poverty estimates.
of 1.4 percent. The episode of high rate of
poverty reduction, especially between 1994 Extreme poverty (subsistence incidence)
and 1997, had been years of relatively
high economic growth (i.e., 5.33% GDP Extreme poverty is estimated using the
growth). However, primarily due to rising proportion of the population living below
food prices, slower growth of incomes, the subsistence or food threshold (or
2 In 1991, the old poverty methodology was used, wherein special rice was considered in the menu and regional prices were used; family size is six.
49

Source: NSCB
* Region IV has not yet been divided into Regions IV-A and IV-B.
** Caraga was created on February 23, 1995.

subsistence incidence). In 1991, subsistence within and around the region. Apparently,
incidence was 24.3 percent2 , which was Regions III and II have long been the top
equivalent to a total of 15.1 million people. producers of rice and corn, respectively, in
This figure decreased to 12.2 million indi- the country, while NCR and Region IV-A
viduals in 2006, comprising 14.6 percent are among their nearest neighbors. Thus,
of the total population (Table 2). However, there might not be problems with food
subsistence incidence increased from 13.5 availability in these regions. On the other
percent in 2003 to 14.6 percent in 2006. hand, among the regions with the highest
subsistence incidence were Caraga, ARMM
In 2006, some regions in Luzon registered and Regions IX, IV-B, VIII and V. It can
the lowest incidence of extreme poverty also be observed from the map that all of
(Figure 2). These regions include the the regions in Visayas and Mindanao had
NCR and Regions III, IV-A, and II. One higher proportion of population living below
of the major reasons behind this might the subsistence threshold relative to the
be the volume of agricultural production national estimate.

50
50

Figure 2. Proportion of population living below the food threshold (%), by region, 2006

Source: FIES, NSO

Income poverty the minimum income required to satisfy the
food or nutritional requirements (2,000 kilo
Income poverty is measured by poverty calories) and other non-food basic needs
incidence, which is defined as the propor- of a family. In 2006, poverty incidence
tion of individuals whose annual per capita among the population was estimated at
income falls below the poverty threshold. 32.9 percent, which is an improvement from
The poverty threshold, on the other hand, is 45.3 percent in 1991 (Figure 3 and Table

Figure 3. Poverty incidence among population (%), 1991-2006

Source: NSCB
51

Source: NSCB

3). In terms of magnitude, about 500,000 than the 2003 figure, indicating a reversal
people were able to get out of poverty; from in the trend.
28.1 million people in 1991 to 27.6 million in
2006. However, this 2006 estimate is higher Figure 4 reveals that in 2006, most of the
regions in the northern part of the country
had relatively lower proportion of popula-
Figure 4. Proportion of population living below the poverty threshold (%), by region, 2006 tion living below the poverty threshold
than those situated in the southern parts
of Luzon (MIMAROPA and Bicol), Visayas
and Mindanao regions. In fact, NCR,
Regions I to III, and CALABARZON had
poverty incidence lower than the national
average. Individuals residing in these
regions (particularly NCR) might be rela-
tively better-off since they have generally
higher standards of living as manifested
through higher access to employment
opportunities and basic social services.
Meanwhile, higher poverty incidence in
Mindanao might be attributed partly to
conflicts and peace and order problems
confronting the regions.
52
2 Source: FIES, NSO


Source: FIES, NSO

Poverty gap ratio and share of poorest quintile from 0.4680 in 1991 to 0.4580 in 2006. As
to national income shown in Table 5, the regions with the most
inequitable income distribution are Regions
Poverty gap ratio, which measures the VII, VIII, IX, and X as these regions have
distance of the average incomes of the Gini coefficients higher than 0.45. Despite
poor to the poverty threshold, indicates the increase in subsistence and poverty
an improvement from 13.0 percent in 1991 incidence, the Gini coefficient continued
to 7.7 percent in 2006 (Table 4). The trend to decline.
shows that poverty gap among the poor
had been consistently narrowing from 13.0 The Philippines has a relatively high
percent in 1991 to 7.0 percent in 2003. inequality compared with its Asian neigh-
However, the gap slightly widened from bors. The Gini coefficient for the Philippines
7.0 percent in 2003 to 7.7 percent in 2006. is higher than the Gini for Indonesia, Viet
This trend is similar to that of poverty and Nam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand, and
subsistence incidence. Malaysia.

On the other hand, the share of poorest
quintile to national income slightly declined Climate change and poverty
from 6.2 percent in 1991 to 6.0 percent in
2006 (Table 4). The share had been consis- Climate change and recurrent disasters
tently going down from 6.2 percent in 1991 increase the vulnerability of the poor
to 5.6 percent in 2000. The Asian financial through the continuous erosion of physical,
crisis followed by the occurrence of the financial, natural, human and social capi-
worst El Niño and La Niña episodes might tals. It would be difficult to sustain reduction
have contributed to this trend. Households in poverty and hunger with the onslaught of
belonging to the poorest quintile somehow climate change and natural disasters.
recovered from 2000 to 2003, but margin-
ally improved in 2006. The destruction of natural resources
has adverse effects on the socioeco-
Income inequality nomic conditions of many people, espe-
cially the rural poor, whose livelihoods
Income inequality is commonly measured are dependent on natural resources,
through the Gini coefficient where zero mainly agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.
means perfect equality while a value of Agricultural productivity is expected to
one (1) implies perfect inequality. In the decline, adversely affecting livelihoods
Philippines, income distribution remains and food systems, particularly in devel-
largely unequal. It has slightly improved oping countries. The decline in agricultural
53
53

Figure 5. Disparities in population growth rate across regions, 1995-2000 and 2000-2007

Source: NSO

productivity means lower income for including food. Thus, as extreme weather
agricultural workers and producers and events increase in frequency and intensity,
lower food supply. Lower income means poverty and hunger incidence are likely to
reduced capacity to meet basic needs increase as well.

Source: FIES, NSO.

54

The government faces a daunting task of through the major anti-poverty policies and
overcoming such challenges and should programs prioritized and implemented.
harness all resources to succeed in
reducing poverty and hunger. Medium-Term Philippine Development
Plan (MTPDP)
Poverty and population growth
The Medium-Term Philippine Development
The 2007 Census of Population shows that Plan (MTPDP) 2004-2010, the country’s
the Philippine population is increasing at 2.04 socio-economic development blueprint, is
percent annually. Although this population also the Administration’s anti-poverty plan.
growth rate (PGR) is down from 2.36 percent Under the MTPDP, poverty reduction is the
as of the 2000 Census, it is still considered centerpiece goal as the Administration
as one of the highest in Asia. At this rate, the vowed to “fight poverty by building pros-
Philippines is expected to hit the 100 million perity for the greatest number of the Filipino
population mark in 2015, and will reach 140 people.” The Plan has five major thematic
million by 2040. Unless the PGR is further components, to wit: (a) economic growth
reduced, the population of the country is and job creation; (b) energy; (c) social
expected to double by 2050. justice and basic needs; (d) education and
youth opportunity; and (e) anti-corruption
The 2007 PGR shows wide dispari- and good governance. The Plan features
ties across regions. Figure 5 shows that a Ten-Point Agenda and Legacy, known as
PGR is highest in ARMM at 5.46 percent. “Beat the Odds”, as follows:
Incidentally, the province of Maguindanao
in ARMM also registered the highest PGR B – Balanced budget
at 6.99 percent. E – Education for all
A – Automated elections
The link between population and poverty T – Transport and digital infrastructure to
has been well-established. Based on a connect the country
comparison among countries in developing
Asia, the high PGR of the Philippines is also T – Terminate the MILF and NPA conflicts
matched by its high poverty incidence. The H – Heal the wounds of EDSA
experiences of Malaysia, Thailand and E – Electricity and water for all barangays
Vietnam suggest that good population
policy combined with sound economic O – Opportunities for 10 million jobs
policy, stemming from sustained policy D – Decongest Metro Manila
reform, brings about rapid economic D – Develop Clark and
growth and poverty reduction. S – Subic as logistics hub

Priority policies and programs The MTPDP targets the reduction of
poverty incidence among families at 20.9
The government’s response to the chal- percent by 2010. The MTPDP Chapter on
lenge of poverty reduction can be seen Responding to the Basic Needs of the Poor

55

promotes asset reform, essential services, KALAHI-Comprehensive and Integrated
employment and livelihood, and community Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS).
empowerment as key components consis-
tent with the KALAHI Program. Policies and programs relating to microfi-
nance, asset reform, social protection, and
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) empowerment of the poor were formulated
and implemented by the government to
The Arroyo administration launched the reduce poverty.
Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI),
or Linking Arms Against Poverty, as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
overarching strategy and program for (4Ps)
poverty reduction. The KALAHI serves as
the Focused, Accelerated, Convergent The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
and Expanded or FACE strategy in fighting (4Ps) was launched in 2008 as a poverty
poverty. It is focused as KALAHI targets the reduction program using conditional cash
poorest and most vulnerable barangays transfers (CCT) for the one million poorest
and sectors in communities. Specific criteria families to improve health, nutrition, and
are established to ensure that poverty education outcomes of their children. The
reduction efforts provide maximum impact 4Ps had the twin objectives of providing
and benefit to those who need them most. social assistance for immediate needs of
It is accelerated as KALAHI immediately the family and social development to break
addresses the communities’ need and the inter-generational poverty through
fast-tracks processes by cutting channels human capital investments. The benefi-
and serving target groups directly. It is ciary households are selected through the
convergent as KALAHI is a mechanism to National Household Targeting System for
converge the poverty reduction efforts of the Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) conducted
government at all levels, as well as those by the Department of Social Welfare and
of the private sector, the civil society, and Development (DSWD) and the Small Area
most especially, the basic sectors to simul- Estimates (SAE) survey of the National
taneously address the economic, political Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).
and socio-cultural dimensions of poverty.
Finally, it is expanded because KALAHI The 4Ps entitles beneficiary households an
recognizes the need for multi-themed and average monthly cash subsidy of PhP1,400
integrated approaches in addressing the for a period of five years. The health
multi-dimensional nature of poverty by package provides PhP500 per household
attending to human development concerns, per month. The education package grants
asset reform, livelihood, and employment. PhP300 monthly per child for ten months
(corresponding to one school year) for
Through the KALAHI Program, various a maximum of three children per house-
modalities have been implemented: hold. Being a CCT, the enrolled benefi-
KALAHI-Rural, KALAHI-Urban, KALAHI- ciary household must fulfill the following
Karaban, KALAHI in Conflict Areas, conditions:
KALAHI Prototype Projects, and the
56

• Regular preventive health check-ups education, reducing child mortality and
and immunization of children 0-5 years old improving maternal health but it also aims
• At least 85 percent attendance in day to indirectly address other MDGs such
care or pre-school for children 3-5 years old as reducing extreme poverty and hunger,
• At least 65 percent attendance in and promoting gender equality as well as
elementary or high school for children 6-14 empowering women.
years old
• Intake of deworming pills for children Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program
0-14 years old every 5 months (AHMP)
• Pre-natal and post-natal care for preg-
nant women with birth to be delivered by a The Accelerated Hunger Mitigation
skilled/trained health professional Program (AHMP) was launched in 2007 as
• Participation of mothers in mother’s a strategy to address the primary causes of
classes hunger. The AHMP is being implemented
• Participation of parents in Parent in 54 priority provinces identified through
Effectiveness and Responsible Parenthood a nationwide survey that adopted the
Seminars self-rated hunger questions survey of the
Social Weather Stations (SWS). The AHMP
The 4Ps seeks to directly address the is guided by a framework that includes
MDGs on achieving universal primary both the supply- and the demand-side
57

interventions. The AHMP seeks to reduce Paaralan, and is now on its third phase. To
the hungry households by 50 percent from date, the program has covered all provinces
1.2 million to 600,000 households. in the country, in addition to the Priority
One and Priority Two areas, with Phase 3
The AHMP’s supply-side strategy benefiting 152,695 households.
includes increasing food production and
enhancing the efficiency of logistics and  Concerning rice seed subsidy, seeds
food delivery interventions to increase distributed were planted to 1,287,805 hect-
food production such as seed subsidies, ares of rice land during the dry season and
technical assistance on intercropping 1,603,293 hectares during the wet season.
corn with coconut, rehabilitation of
irrigation facilities, among others. The  About 67,881 hectares of coconut
programs under the AHMP are the land were covered by coconut intercrop-
Barangay Bagsakan (formerly Barangay ping, while salt fertilization reached 29,882
Food Terminals) and the Tindahan Natin coconut farmers for a second dosage of
(TN), which are community stores selling salt fertilization application. Salt fertiliza-
cheap basic food items in depressed tion increases coconut yield by at least 25
communities; the construction of roll-on percent and makes coconut trees resistant
roll-off (RORO) ports and farm-to-market to drought, pests and diseases.
roads; the Food-for-School Program of
the DSWD (i.e., for day care children)  Accomplishments for the livestock
and the Department of Education (DepEd) program pursue 2008 targets that were
(i.e., for elementary pupils). carried over to 2009 benefiting 13,425
families. Re-dispersal of 15,432 heads of
On the other hand, the demand-side chicken benefited 3,086 families while 753
strategy of the AHMP includes putting more heads of goats benefited 376 families.
money in poor people’s pockets essentially
through livelihood skills training, microfi-  Another major activity under the Dairy
nance, upland distribution for cultivation Goat Development Project is the distribution
of rubber, jatropa and other cash crops, of dairy goats for milk production, which
as well as the promotion of good nutrition started toward the end of November and
education and population management. spilled-over up to the ﬁrst quarter of 2010.
Because of the need to quarantine animals
Based on the 2009 National Nutrition before distribution, only 198 heads of dairy
Council (NNC) report on the AHMP, the goats out of the targeted 4,785 heads of
following are the major accomplishments goats were delivered to provinces near
of the program: Priority One provinces. These goats will be
raised for milk to be delivered to nearby
 Regarding Increasing Food Priority One provinces.
Production, the Programang Gulayan sa
Masa was implemented to encourage the  The fishery program has reached
establishment of home vegetable gardens a total of 26,876 beneficiaries. Fisherfolks
and has expanded to the Gulayan sa have praised the program for providing
58
58

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Philippines MDG Progress Report 2010

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