LC getting ready for 2015

LC getting ready for 2015
Richard M. Collado

Poverty and hunger indeed are two main global issues. It has been identified as two of the roots of all other concerns to be immediately addressed. In fact the United Nations Development Programme is making full efforts, calling on donors to “continue, and ideally boost, their current commitments” to help the agency pull the world’s developing countries out of poverty.
With the help of the United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (End poverty and hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Environmental Sustainability, Global Partnership), these alarming global problems will be mitigated if all the concerned agencies will participate actively.
In the country, they have been doing all sorts to respond to this call. On June 8, 2005, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the "Dunong ng Bata, Yaman ng Bansa" or the National Supplemental Feeding Program (NSFP) to reduce by 50% the prevalence of 0 to 5 underweight children in 2015. Since then, food distribution continued for said sector through the Department of Education and the DSWD and in partnership with concerned agencies and the local government units.

This is indeed a commendable effort of the government. Evidently because of this noble program almost all the schools nationwide are sponsoring supplemental feeding programs. Local government units, private agencies are strengthening their partnership in organizing information dissemination and parallel programs to address these issues.
Youth are likewise actively been involved in this call. In the 10th International Youth Day held last August 5-7 which was spearheaded by the United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines, which was participated in by youth around the globe, they have an intensive discuss ion on platform of actions in realizing the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals.
In the city of Laoag, aside from the feeding programs, the Laoag City government is giving scholarships to deserving school children from elementary and secondary schools. Recipients of the said scholarships were identified by the schools based on the criteria for selection.
While it is true that in order for one to succeed, the effort must come from him but if no one will help, still it is difficult especially if the family is facing the challenge of poverty and hunger.
As what the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said, “If children are pulled out of school because of the effects of the crisis on their families and their countries’ budgets, they may never get a second chance in education. If children have poor nutrition because of the crisis, the long-term effects on their cognitive skills and productive potential are serious.”
This is a challenge to all that come 2015, poverty and hunger will be eliminated, education will be highlighted, and progress will be achieved with the concerted effort of the public.