The Philippines, led by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) launched various programs and interventions to achieve these goals such as: Conditional Cash Transfer (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program); Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community-Driven Development Program; Universal Health Care (Kalusugan Pangkalahatan); and the K to 12 Program. As NEDA’s Cecil Reyes said: “The biggest contribution of the MDG is making politicians, the leaders, the general public aware of the importance of looking at these [development] areas.”
[v] While the MDGs may not have been a complete success in achieving its targets, it provided governments like the Philippines, with a solid framework on which they can anchor their efforts to combat poverty, illiteracy, diseases and hunger in their respective countries. The MDGs may be too narrow according to its critics but it has achieved remarkable success in many aspects of socio-economic development.
The Philippines, as one of the member states that adopted the 2000 declaration, vigorously worked on achieving the MDGs but after 15 years of implementation, it too was unable to fully attain its targets. Nonetheless, it reported to have halved the proportion of Filipinos with no access to basic sanitation when the MDG expired in 2015. It also claimed to be on track in providing universal access to primary education and educational opportunities for girls; and in reducing infant and under-five mortality, reversing the incidence of malaria, increasing tuberculosis detection and cure rates; and increasing the proportion of households with access to safe water supply. Despite these relative successes, it admitted having failed in meeting targets on gender equality, prevalence of underweight preschool children, maternal mortality, access to reproductive health, incidence of income poverty, and elementary education among others.
The Philippines has learned many valuable lessons from the implementation of the MDGs. It helped the government in identifying and prioritizing the people’s development needs, on a national and subnational context. In a 2016 report submitted by the country during the High- Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HPLF)
[2], it cited the need for good governance as one of the key lessons in attaining its goals. It said that achieving the MDGs required a sustained commitment from all stakeholders- government, non-government, private, civil society and development partners. Implementing the MDGs also needed a clear implementation plan that contains institutional arrangements, communication and advocacy strategies, financial plan and programs that help build the resiliency of the Filipinos against natural calamities and disasters. Moreover, it highlighted the need for an appropriate data monitoring system to make it more responsive to the demand for data disaggregation.
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The Sustainable Development Goal
“Sustainable Development” came into popularity after it was defined by the Brutland Report (Our Common Failure) as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
[vi]. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was then developed by UN Member states and officially came into force in January 1, 2016, four years after it was launched. The 2030 Agenda, as its Preamble says, “is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity that seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom”. It has more goals (17), targets (169), and indicators (230), than the MDG. Food security and agricultural development is at the core heart of the 2030 Agenda as it aims to address the root causes of poverty and hunger, promote equality in the society and leaving no one behind.
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Upon its full implementation, the Philippines embarked on its own journey towards the attainment of the SDGs. With 15 years of experience in MDG implementation behind it, the country is confident it would be able to implement the SDGs more efficiently and effectively. It has committed itself towards the pursuit of much a bigger challenge, and has been vigorously trying to integrate the various aspects of sustainable development (social, economic, technological, environmental) to propel the country towards a higher level of progress.
THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
In implementing the SDGs, the Philippines first focused on developing policies and creating an enabling environment by securing the support of policymakers and stakeholders. Since its implementation in 2016, various efforts have been undertaken to by the Philippine Government and its partners to promote awareness and generate support for the agenda by enhancing communications and advocacy initiatives, and intensifying engagements with various stakeholders. Other initiatives include incorporating the SDGs into the national framework and developing institutional mechanisms to ensure its thorough implementation.
The Philippines adopted various approaches in implementing the SDGs particularly the whole-of-government, multi-sector and multi-stakeholder approaches. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) acts as the lead agency in performance monitoring, while other national level government agencies spearhead the implementation of programs under each thematic goal. Early in 2016, the NEDA Technical Secretariat held various consultation meetings and dialogues with national agencies and departments and representatives of Non-Government Organizations (NGO), Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and the private sector to identify and prioritize areas of implementation. This initiative brought about positive response and encouraged different stakeholders to support the campaign. It has become a solid platform on which various advocacy groups have anchored their own social development programs.
Building constituency for the SDGs is crucial to its implementation. As such, vigorous efforts are being undertaken by the lead agencies to create a community of supporters and advocates at the national and subnational level. Continuous briefings and information campaign are being held with other national agencies. Universities and other institutions of learning, and different partners are being engaged to broaden the stakeholder base. Various symposia, fora, dialogues and workshop-consultations are continuously being held across different sectors and interest groups. The quad-media (radio, TV, print and internet) are being tapped propagate information as far and as inclusive as possible. At the global and international level, the country is actively collaborating with other countries in the development of SDG indicators. It has been consistently engaging in discussions and expert group meetings at the global and regional arena to share and learn from best practices, and enhance its own capabilities for implementing the program.
Although the country has gained many lessons from the implementation of the MDGs, it has a long way to go in terms of effective, efficient and proper identification, assessment and prioritization of SDG indicators. Technical workshops with concerned agencies, academe, civil society, NGOs, UN Agencies and the private sector are being conducted to hone competencies in these areas. Meanwhile, the national and subnational level consultations on the implementation of the SDGs resulted to the Philippines’ current list of Priority Goals.
THE POLICY ENVIRONMENT
Policy support is vital in pursuing any development program because it serves as the backbone for its implementation. Implementing the SDGs in the country calls for the formulation of different policies and development of new strategies at different echelons of government and levels of community.
The launching of the SDGs coincided with the first year of the President Duterte’s administration which saw the agenda being integrated into the country’s long-term vision dubbed as “AmBisyon Natin 2040”. The 17 goals were subsequently incorporated in different national, subnational and sectoral plans, programs, policies and frameworks such as in the successor Medium- Term Development Plans (Philippine Development Plan
[4], Public Investment Plan, Budget Priorities Framework). The SDGs were also included in the Philippine Statistical Development Plan 2011- 2017 to ensure government support in the generation of data an which enable other stakeholders to plan for and contribute to its attainment. An Implementation Plan, Financing Plan, Monitoring Plan and other institutional mechanisms were likewise developed and established as primary means of implementing the Agenda.
The Philippines held a review of the different institutional mechanisms established for the implementation of the MDGs to serve as the same bodies for the implementation of the SDGs. It was found out that, first, there is no centralized coordinating and reporting body for the SDGs hence the need to create a dedicated oversight committee and technical secretariat. Second, there is a need for the establishment of SDG Mechanism at the Subnational Level which includes mainstreaming the goals in development budgeting.
Among the initiatives undertaken by the Philippine to address the lessons learned from the past development goals is the issuance of various policy pronouncements across all government agencies including Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) to support the implementation of the SDGs specifically through data support and performance monitoring. A webpage was created to further strengthen the monitoring and reporting mechanisms while SDG Watch has been developed to monitor relevant and available indicators. SDG Focal Points were identified from each data- source agency to facilitate coordination and data gathering. A high-level interagency NEDA Committee that will plan and oversee the coordinated implementation of SDG- related policies and programs is currently on the works.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Records show that the Philippines was not able to fully attain all MDG targets when it lapsed in 2015. As it embarks on a journey to pursue a new set of goals, it is once again faced with an extensive list of issues and concerns, some of which were the same challenges encountered in the MDG implementation. On top of the list is the availability of data and data disaggregation. Most depressed communities are in hinterlands and far-flung islands were transportation and communication remain as major concerns which hampers the timely collection, integration, submission and processing of data. There is also a need for optimal use of information technology to maximize the utilization and dissemination of the SDG indicators. Lack of clarity of the assorted technical terms used in the indicators is also a major challenge as well as the overlaps and inconsistencies of the concepts. Misconception and misinterpretation of these parameters result to varying degree of implementation and consequently, to errors in reporting as well. Still, accountability and ownership remain as among the top obstacles to be hurdled by the country. It is not surprising for different government agencies and offices to pass on responsibility to each other and blame one another when it comes to performance issues. Lastly, budgetary constraints hinder the country from speedily attaining its targets. The SDGs will reach unprecedented success if and only if it is backed up by a sustainable financing plan.
Meanwhile, the country also sees major areas or venues on which it would be needing technical support. Capacity- building on the technical aspects of the SDG monitoring and implementation, and the improvement of database systems remain as top priorities. Data collected no matter the quality and quantity, will only matter if it is processed, analyzed and converted into ‘edible’ statements for the consumption of policymakers and relevant agencies. Advocacy and information communication as well as enhancement of human resources are critical areas of concern as well. Stakeholder engagement should not be a single and stand-alone activity if we want to maximize its impacts and benefits. Constituency and ownership must be encouraged and built up to the lowest echelons of the government and society. Furthermore, the timely, effective and efficient implementation of a comprehensive list of goals and targets is heavily reliant on the availability of well-trained, skilled and dedicated personnel throughout the country. Investing on human capital is always paramount in these kinds of undertaking.
THE WAY AHEAD
The Philippine Development Framework aims for inclusive growth, focusing on national security, good governance and ecological integrity. To make this happen, market access must be improved (through trade agreements and trade fairs, etc.) and innovation must be encouraged especially in agricultural research and development and product design. Our competitiveness must be enhanced particularly in infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, communications, power, energy etc.), and flagship programs such as the K-12 and CCT must be supported. Likewise, we must continue developing our socioeconomic resiliency through capacity-building and information campaigns as we continue efforts to promote good governance to encourage investments and create jobs; and increase social participation in the growth process.
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The implementation of the SDG in the next 13 years will face more challenges along the way but the Philippines is gradually adapting to it. Although expert opinion is divided on whether the country is on track in attaining its targets, it is beyond debate that it needs to pursue as clear strategic direction for its implementation. For one, it should be able to develop, establish and consistently abide with an SDG Implementation Roadmap. The roadmap shall at the minimum, contain the requisite objectives, courses of actions, tasks and responsibilities and array of resources, and serve as framework for its successful implementation. It shall pursue the creation of a dedicated high-level committee chaired by NEDA to oversee the synchronized implementation of all plans, programs, activities and policies. The committee shall also lead the monitoring and evaluation of the country’s progress in terms of each target until its closure.
Another area which the government will have to focus on is the refinement of the SDG Indicators to further fine-tune it vis-Ã -vis our national priorities. Having a clearly defined set of indicators will help in ensuring ownership and accountability from implementing bodies and other stakeholders. Continuously harmonizing the SDGs with the national development frameworks, and the enhancement of the indicators must also be attended to. Existing policies must be regularly reviewed to determine its relevance to SDG implementation. Meanwhile, the Philippine should be relentless in building partnerships and promoting ownership among its stakeholders. A strategic communication plan must be able to raise awareness and mobilize mass support for the 2030 Agenda. Lastly, the leadership capacity of local leaders, the cooperation of communities, and the technical expertise of pertinent government agencies and other private and public institutions need to be strengthened to make them more capable of contributing to the attainment of these aspirations.
At present, it is still too early to tell whether the Philippines will be able to successfully deliver on each of the 17 SDGs. The level of optimism varies from sector to sector but in general, the 2030 Agenda was buoyed by the promise that came with the new administration. A good enabling environment has already been created to promote ownership of the SDGs. It has already been integrated into the national development framework which puts the country into a more solid position for its implementation. With its experience in MDG, the country is now more adept at mapping out SDG indicators for a more efficient national monitoring. Moreover, it has been generally successful in engaging the participation of stakeholders from various sectors.
Still, the country cannot rest on its laurels yet because there is more work to be done. Poverty, hunger, diseases, illiteracy and inequality persist alongside a multitude of other social ills. Real socio- economic development has yet to be felt in the farthest villages across the country where access to electricity is decades away, where cellular phones are rare, and where internet is unknown. In many urban and rural areas, access to clean and safe water is still a luxury for many, and shelter is just a place under a bridge. Religious and ideological conflict pervades in many regions, and violent extremism is rapidly gaining a solid foothold. While some of our government institutions have shown stability through the years, many have yet to achieve maturity and reliability as political dynasties and traditional politics continue to thrive.
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is an ambitious list of aspirations for a country known for its resilience. Still, in a competitive, dynamic and rapidly- changing global and regional environment, the country is poised to take on such goals- armed with the best weapon ever made.
HOPE.
Notes:
vii. “Towards Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Lecture presentation of Myrna Clara Asuncion, Social Development Staff National Economic and Development Authorithttps://www.pep-net.org/sites/pep-net.org/files/CBMS/Conference/12th/Presentations/Asuncion.pdf
