4 LGUs pool together targets against poverty
Four local government units (LGUs) in Pangasinan have expressed confidence they would achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 in a bid to address poverty and other issues and problems facing them.
Mayors Hernani Braganza of Alaminos City, Marcelo Navarro of Bani, Alberto Guiang of Burgos and Noel Nacar of Dasol said they have put their MDGs together in their development agenda and integrated their projects in their respective annual annual investment plan starting 2012.
MDGs are a set of goals and targets, which more than 180 heads of state, including that of the Philippines, committed to pursue in 2000, as part of the United Nation’s Millennium Declaration by 2015. MDGs primarily aim is to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable human development.
Braganza, secretary general of the League of Cities of the Philippines, said local governments are responsible in the fight against poverty, and are in a better position to help the national government identify specific MDG targets.
“To determine the problem and solution is just half of the job. We must know the threats, weaknesses and strengths to be able to pursue our development goals,” he said in a press statement.
He said he is optimistic that the consolidation of programs and projects, and budget allocations would help achieve the MDG targets of each locality.
All budget items within the 2012 investment plans of the four local governments have been tagged according to their relevance to the MDGs in a recent seminar held in Alaminos City, Braganza said.
During the seminar the local officials identified other fund sources other than the 20 percent development fund of LGUs, he added.
The seminar workshop under the MDG tagging was the first of its kind as far as the local budget deliberation was concerned.
Poverty eradication, environmental protection and management and sustainability, maternal health care and universal primary education were addressed during the seminar workshop.
Braganza appealed to President Benigno Aquino III, the Department of Budget and Management and other concerned government agencies to pour in the much-needed investments to push the MDG projects of the LGUs.
