by Jessie R. Valdez

San Fernando City, La Union (17 October) -- Another distinction was added to the various distinctions accorded to the Arroyo administration when the United Nations (UN) commended the government's Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) for being compliant with the world body's Millenium Development Goals (MDG) in reducing poverty through job creation and enterprise.

This major achievement of the government deserves paramount praise and we Filipinos beam with pride again because we have a determined working President along with the government's efforts and sacrifices and she's at the back of a supportive Filipino society. Also, with her tough economic decision and revenue generating measures, it had contributed a lot to the country's credit/benefit.

Based from the report, UN representative to the Philippines, Nileema Noble commended President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for having adopted the MDG in terms of the government's planning and programming framework.

The report also mentioned that what impressed Noble was, the country has not only adapted and adopted the MDG goals but has translated them into plans of action at the local level and the frameworks of action into delivery of social services on the ground.

Although, the report pointed out that the country should not stop there, but keep on and continue performing on nutrition, reduction of hunger, elementary survival rates, elementary participation rates and access to reproductive health and others.

In other reports, it was said that the government is hopeful, it can likely achieve most of its targets as it will exert all its efforts to generate resources thru tax collection, increased official development assistance for MDG-related programs and projects, strengthen its commitment and improve the capacity of LGUs and budgetary reform initiatives for social services. It has also forged strategic cooperation/coordination with various development partners

The MTPDP is a detailed roadmap of the government towards achieving our common goal of reducing poverty by creating jobs for the people and enterprise.

In line with this, La Union gave its share. It has made encouraging strides in reducing poverty and promote social and human development for the poor. The city & provincial governments headed by L.U. Gov. Victor F. Ortega and DOLE conducted several job fairs during the first quarter wherein several jobseekers were employed here and abroad. The community-based livelihood programs which extends financial and technical assistance to small business ventures and cooperatives is boosting local employment and social services initiated by the city and provincial governments. Another similar joint projects were given by some concerned agencies like DTI, TESDA, DSWD, DOLE including private sectors.

The One Town, One project (OTOP), establishment of SME's, Tindahan Natin, Botika sa Barangay, feeding programs for school children in depressed areas are among the many other developmental projects of the government implemented nationwide by concerned agencies and the LGUs who are the forefront in local development and in the pursuit of sustainable human development. All these had greatly contributed to the country's becoming a compliant with the world body's MDG in the reduction of poverty.

The opportunities for livelihood and jobs envisions the people to rise above poverty and enjoy the fruits of progress, is a vital anchor of the 10-pt agenda of PGMA.