WINNING THE NUMBERS,

LOSING THE WAR

RESPONSE OF

SENATE PRESIDENT JUAN PONCE ENRILE

“Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Professor Liling Briones, Gani Serrano, friends from the Social Watch Philippines, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

I am pleased and honored to be with you today. I consider it a great privilege to know the thoughts and ideas of people like you who, in the hopes of protecting national interests and goals, provide us policymakers with a balanced perspective of current issues and concerns.

Let me assure you that I am with you in the journey towards economic and social development. We are all united and bound together by a common vision -- that of witnessing in our lifetime a poverty-free Philippines. I fervently hope and pray that it will happen soon since I am already in my sunset years. That is the optimist side of a man who has fought many battles, but whose spirit remains buoyant.

Ten years ago, during the United Nations Millennium Summit, the Herculean challenge of reducing poverty by 50 percent and eradicating the worst forms of deprivation by 2015 was issued to governments all over the world. Our country was among the 192 UN member states which adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Today, ten years after the Philippines adopted the MDGs, our commitment to achieve the MDGs has not wavered. However, as shown in the Citizens’ MDG Report 2010, our efforts are not enough. We need to do more.

Barely five years away from the deadline set by the United Nations, we under pressure to break from the clutches of poverty in order to save the lives of millions of poor Filipinos. There are economic and social issues that need to be resolved. There are flaws in our policies that have to be corrected.

Most of all, government has to invest more in the programs and projects related to the MDGs. We need to honestly evaluate our policies, address the issues that impede the attainment of our development goals such as massive corruption in all levels of the society, fragile peace and order condition especially in the poorest regions of the country, high population growth, weak institutions and governance. Reforms must be undertaken, no matter how difficult they may be.

One thing I can assure you is this. With our without the intervention of the United Nations, the members of the Senate -- the peoples’ Senate – has long recognized that investments in health care, disease control, education, physical infrastructure and environmental conservation are core strategies for long-term economic development. I am proud to tell you that your Senators have been relentless in enacting laws that will create an environment conducive for the attainment of reforms in our policies and programs for the benefit of our people, specially those living, or barely surviving, in the margins of our society.

The Citizen’s MDG Report 2010 is a brutally frank assessment of the government’s efforts, as well as an examination of how far we have come in terms of addressing poverty and in keeping with our commitment to attain the MDGs by 2015. Indeed, it has been a long and arduous journey. The challenge now is for all of us in government to continue undertaking reforms instead of glossing over the cold and hard facts, for we are still far from the realization of our development goals.

I call on the government agencies which are directly involved in the implementation of programs and in the formulation of strategies to attain the MDGs. Look closely into the Citizens’ MDG Report 2010. We are racing against time. More than meeting a deadline, millions of lives need to be protected, basic needs have to be met, and rights and welfare must be protected. We need to get our act together to pull our country out of this economic and social quagmire and save as many Filipino lives as we can.

On the part of the Senate, I assure you that we shall continue to pass laws that support the attainment of the MDGs. Moreover, we shall scrutinize the budget of government agencies tasked to implement the programs and projects related to the MDGs. I assure you that I will look into your recommendations.

Let me end by congratulating and thanking the Social Watch Philippines, led by the brilliant Professor iling Briones, for this straightforward and no holds-barred report. I truly appreciate your remarkable advocacy efforts. It is heartwarming and inspiring to know that, despite the formidable challenges, you are with us in this journey towards social reform and sustainable development.

Once again, thank you so much for inviting me here. This has been an enriching and enlightening experience.

Mabuhay tayong lahat! Mabuhay ang ating Bansa!  ^ Back to top