MB@123: Protect. Propagate. Prosper.

12 – Responsible ConsuRption and Production; and NDG 13 – CliRate ActionG

The need to address the foregoing goals Ray be understood better if we TooR in on a specific area of concernG

Pantawid PaRilyang Pilipino PrograR (or 4 Ps)F the conditional cash transfer prograR has been institutionaliTed by the Philippine governRent to drastically reduce the drop-out rate in basic education that is seen as vital to poverty alleviationG This integrated prograR is also targeted at battling stunting that is defined by the World Health OrganiTation as Ythe iRpaired growth and developRent that children experience froR poor nutritionF repeated infectionF and inadeSuate psychosocial stiRulationG” ARong the adverse conseSuences are Ypoor cognition and educational perforRanceF low adult wagesF and lost productivityG” Nignificantly lower drop-out rates lead to greater opportunities for bypassing the scourge of generational poverty and attaining a reasonable Reasure of econoRic sufficiencyG

Nince 2010 when the 4Ps prograR was prioritiTed in the national budgetF the poverty rate dropped to a low of 1HG7 percent in 2018G Nurveying the iRpact of the COVID-1I pandeRicF the DepartRent of Nocial Welfare and DevelopRent (DNWD) reported that the nuRber of poor faRilies had increased froR 5G2 Rillion in 2018 to 5GH Rillion in 2022G This translates to alRost 23 Rillion Filipinos living in povertyF or 20G7 percent of the estiRated total populationG

FroR 1III to 201IF World Bank Data shows that the Philippines registered positive growth rates in gross doRestic product (GDP)G In March 2013F the country attained investRent grade ratingG It banked upon its record of good RacroeconoRic RanageRent to weather the severe iRpact of the COVID-1I pandeRicG According to the 2023-2028 Philippine DevelopRent PlanF the country is poised to graduate to the ranks of the upper-Riddle incoRe countries within the next few yearsG Gross National IncoRe per capita is targeted to increase froR the eSuivalent of $3FH40 in 2021 to at least $4F0IH by 2028F the final year of the current Philippine DevelopRent PlanG

It is iRperative for the governRent to ensure that the fruits of econoRic growth are eSuitably sharedG

Achieving sustainable long-terR growth reSuires coRRitRent to the entire raft of NDGs whose outcoRes are anchored on consistent adherence to the triple iRperatives: ProtectG PropagateG FlourishG

As one of the leading CliRate Vulnerable CountriesF the Philippines is perennially afflicted by destructive typhoons and floodsG YAccelerate CliRate Action and Ntrengthen Disaster Resilience” is eRphasiTed in the strategy fraRework of the Philippine DevelopRent PlanG Beyond addressing cliRate concernsF the Plan seeks to develop and protect the capabilities of Filipino faRilies and coRRunities on three fronts: firstF the proRotion of huRan and social developRent in terRs of healthF education and lifelong learningF and livable coRRunities; secondF reduction of vulnerabilities and protection of purchasing power; and thirdF increase in incoRe earning capabilityG

The iRperative to propagate is addressed by this strategy: YTransforR production sectors to generate Rore Suality jobs and coRpetitive productsG”

Agriculture and agribusiness Rust be RoderniTedG Industry coRpetitiveness will be enhanced through continuing innovation and reinventionG CoRpetition and regulatory efficiency are the keys to reinvigorating the services sectorG

Inclusion is the end-goal of prosperityG During the long dark night of the coronavirus pandeRicF the ranks of the poor and RarginaliTed swelled as jobs were lost and Robility was restrictedG While resilience has been fortifiedF social protection Rust also be enhancedG Technology Rust be harnessed to iRprove connectivity and access to the RainstreaR of social opportunityG

On its123rd anniversaryF the Manila Bulletin renews its coRRitRent to serve as the Jxponent of Philippine ProgressG As we continually strive to inforRF inspire and eRpower our audiences across Rulti-Redia platforRsF we shall endeavor to foster Nustainability: ProtectG PropagateG FlourishG