June 23, 2006 · Posted in: Civil Society, In the News
UP study finds huge funding gaps
for development goals
THERE are 1,680 households in the municipality of Tuburan in Lanao del Sur; of all those households, only eight — not even half of a percent — have access to clean water.
Thus describing the gravity of poverty in many areas across the country, Prof. Leonor Briones, convenor of the nongovernment Social Watch Philippines, yesterday urged the government to fulfill its commitments to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and prioritize the funding of anti-poverty programs.
The MDGs are a set of time-bound strategies listed in 2000 by the international community to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.
Briones also teaches at the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG). Yesterday’s occasion was the launching of a publication put together by her NCPAG students in a course on Fiscal Administration. The book is called, “Moving Forward with the Millennium Development Goals: May Pera Pa Ba?“
“The good news is that there is money for the MDGs,” Briones said. “The bad news is, hindi kasya (it’s inadequate).”
The publication contains papers reporting on the financing needs of, and resources for, seven of the eight MDGs. It also contains presentations by government officials made at a multisectoral forum, held several months ago, on the same theme.
The seven millennium goals that are discussed are: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; universal primary education; gender equality; reduction of infant mortality; reduction of maternal mortality; reversal of the spread of HIV/AIDS and eradication of malaria and other diseases; and environmental sustainability.
Presenting the highlights of the publication, Briones talked about the biggest financing gaps for the millennium goals. She concluded with a remark that if the government can allot a billion pesos to its anti-insurgency campaign, then surely she said, it can pour in more funds for anti-poverty measures.
For the eradication of extreme poverty, the study estimates that the annual requirement is P168.9 billion, but available resources come up to only P121.9 billion; that leaves an annual resource gap of some P47 billion.
To attain the goal of universal primary education, according to the report, the funds needed are estimated at P133 billion. Yet the budget for the education department is pegged only at P119 billion, which means there is an average annual shortfall of P14 billion.
For health-related goals, the report quotes the health department’s own estimates, the funding shortfall is over P7.5 billion.
“We take pride in our adoration of our mothers and babies,” she said. “But we do not really take care of them!”
Briones said the study team was not able to obtain enough data to clearly estimate the funding requirements for achieving the goal of environmental sustainability. (Under this goal are specific sub-goals, including increasing access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.) And yet, Briones stressed, “of all the MDGs, (achieving environmental sustainability) probably requires the heaviest financing.”
“How do we even begin to regain our forests?” She asked. “How do we clean the air?”
Briones and her team of researchers admit the difficulties in coming up with the most accurate calculations of financing requirements and shortfalls. There are inadequacies in data, for example, she lamented. However, Briones said, the data they were able to obtain and analyze indeed indicate a huge financing gap for the country to be able to move forward in fulfilling the MDGs.
9 Responses to UP study finds huge funding gaps
for development goals
Juan Makabayan
June 23rd, 2006 at 7:04 pm
To cover the MDG’s financing gap repeal the automatic appropriations for debt servicing.
Debt for MDG swap.
Ambuot Saimo
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Billions for insurgency but nothing to address poverty??? Wrong policy!!! It should be the other way around because poverty and military (abuses) is the root cause of insurgency.
Juan Makabayan
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:05 pm
What is the cause of poverty and military abuses? Wrong policies. Who makes the wrong policies? Politicians. Who votes for politicians? The people, mostly poor, whose votes are easily bought. It’s a vicious cycle. The politics of poverty – and greedy politicians.
Ambuot Saimo
June 24th, 2006 at 1:11 am
JM,
That’s accusing the victims. You may have a good point though. But look… the people voted for FPJ but who’s in Malacanang right now? If they able to rig the election results nationally, it’s more easy locally. In sum, if you have money you can pre-determine in advance the election results without necessarily directly buying the voter’s votes.
Solution? How about politicians cleansing!!! (not the African way of course)
Toro
June 24th, 2006 at 9:18 am
The statement “people voted for FPJ but who’s in Malacanang right now?”
I’m not a GMA apologist, but to be fair, let’s put that statement in the proper perspective. It can be conceded that there was cheating in the 2004 elections just as there had been cheating in every election since Pres. Roxas won over Laurel in 1946, and every presidential election thereafter, but it cannot be said with 100% certainty that FPJ won over GMA just as Miriam could not have won in 1992 over Ramos just because she claimed Ramos cheated too.
Juan Makabayan
June 24th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Anyway, Ambuot, in our Municipality, a corrupt actor-politician whose scams were exposed by our congressman, bingo-ed three terms. Sa squatter area malakas ang mga artista lalo na kung may pera solid ang boto. Nang kapusin na ang pondo ng munisipiyo, nagrereklamo ang mga tao sa kulang na serbisyo, kahit yung basura uncollected kasi naipon ang utang ng munisipiyo. My friend, a bgy captain, when people go to him to complain, berated these people who he knows supported the corrupt politician, ” Kasi mahal ninyo and idol niyo, eh, kapag naabutan pa kayo hindi na kayo nagiisip.” Now, a kagawad laments, when people go to the barangay for medicine or pamasahe, sagad na, sa bulsa na nila bumubunot, kapag walang maiabot sabe niya, ” alam ko na, mayroon taong papanaw”
Cleansing? Actually ok yan kung medyo transformational ang dating.
Juan Makabayan
June 24th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Toro,
The 2004 elections was a collective failure. That is why its consequence is a continuing national disaster.
The numbers are secondary to the circumstances under which the votes were casted and counted.
It was an anomalous election from the start. GMA’s assumption into office as “acting president” resulted in a unique (abnormal) situation, which for GMA is a tempting opportunity, of an incumbent running as candidate. It was not the intention of the constitution, which prohibits a seating president to run for re-election. An incumbent president can use the machinery of government and its resources to take undue advantage. Which was what happened.
(I was invited to volunteer and recruit for PPCRV, Feb 2004, by one of its officers whom I warned, “they will just be legitimizing an anomalous election.” PPCRV belatedy asked for an inquiry, as posted on this blog).
Now, after the situation has continually turned for the worst, GMA seizes another opportunity to set the national agenda with the all-out war against insurgents portending more suffering especially for the poor. GMA has prioritized anti-insurgency over anti-poverty. Thereby, in a way, instead of her rhetorical declaration of war on poverty, GMA has declared war on the poor.
Toro
June 24th, 2006 at 7:45 pm
“It was an anomalous election from the start. GMA’s assumption into office as “acting president” resulted in a unique (abnormal) situation, which for GMA is a tempting opportunity, of an incumbent running as candidate. It was not the intention of the constitution, which prohibits a seating president to run for re-election. An incumbent president can use the machinery of government and its resources to take undue advantage. Which was what happened. ”
JM, I have to play the devil’s advocate here in a manner of speaking on the issue of acting president. We can debate this point and waste both of our time, when this is already a dead issue having been decided with finality by the Supreme Court. I don’t expect you to share the SC opinion, of course, but rightly or wrongly, it is water under the bridge; it is a decided case and there’s nothing more we can do about it
I talk of the issues confronting us here and now. You look at GMA’s war against insurgency as her declaration of war on the poor. I differ with that view because I find that view absurd. The insurgents have contributed absolutely nothing for the economic welfare of people in the country side other than instill fear in them. They destroy and burn down the properties of business that refuse to be blackmailed into paying revolutionary taxes. Construction companies could not do their job in building roads, bridges and housing in NPA-infested territories unless revolutionary taxes are paid. To name a few, Globe and Smart have 30 cell sites last year and another 9 this year destroyed by the NPAs because of their refusal to be victims of extortion. During elections the barrio folks are threatened with harm if they do not vote for their favorite party-list candidates like Bayan. And candidates unsupportive of them are warned not to campaign at all. Today you see them represented in Congress and they go under different names edifying the poor and down-trodden. You also see them waving red flags in every public demonstration. Their logistics are good, well financed. Thanks to the pork barrel of their friends in Congress – the tax that you and I pay.
I do no wish to dwell any longer on the issue as this is out of topic.
Gurong Bayan
July 5th, 2006 at 5:24 pm
kulang na nga ang pero..hindi pa ginagastos sa dapat gastosan. ang kung ginagastos naman, kinukurakot pa.
Tama corrupt yung politicians..but there are also who are effective and really know governance, i.e. Robredo, Gov Josie of bulacan etc
Most of the people are also ignorant about their citizenship..but there are also who know how to be responsible citizens, i.e. Concern Citizen of Abra for Good Governance.
Sa maikling sabi..we dont lack best practice…but why we can not scale up the success at the local level…