LAOG CITY, Ilocos Norte, Nov 29 (PNA) –The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has lauded the convergence initiative program of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte geared towards the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals (MDG) as a priority agenda among local government units here.
Edwin Carińo, head of the MDG department of the provincial government said evaluators bared a positive result on the effectiveness of the MDG-initiated projects meant to reduce extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, reduce maternal death and child mortality, ensure environment sustainability and promote gender equality among others.
During the evaluation of these projects, Carińo said some of the beneficiaries were interviewed based on the impact of the government-initiated programs to them.
The provincial government in 2012 formulated policies and guidelines backing the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) through the provision of a menu of options for each beneficiary.
Guided by a set of criteria leading to the attainment of these goals, the successful implementation of the MDG programs in Ilocos Norte has been attributed to convergence effort, involving commitment and partnership with concerned stakeholders.
Tagged as one of the least poor provinces in the country, Ilocos Norte continues to promote convergence of interests among multi-sectoral groups composed of public and private stakeholders, which slowly changing the economic landscape of the marginalized sector, particularly among fishermen, farmers, children, self-employed, unpaid family workers, and women.
Based on the latest monitoring of the MDG progress report in Ilocos Norte, the province achieved a positive rating from the evaluators.
Of the 247,882 identified poor households in Region 1, it was reported that only 10 percenty, or 24,890, indigents reside in Ilocos Norte. All their basic needs were attended to by the joint effort of DSWD and the provincial government in collaboration with inter-government agencies and interest groups here. (PNA)