NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon presents at the United Nations the Philippine experience in applying the multidimensional index (MPI) to eradicate poverty in all its forms and dimensions.
25 September 2018, New York – Dr. Rosemarie G. Edillon, Undersecretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), underscored the crucial need to use the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) as an alternative measure of poverty during the High-level side-event on “Using the Multidimensional Poverty Index to guide innovative policies in all its dimensions.” The side-event was held on 25 September 2018 at the sidelines of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Undersecretary Edillon recalled that the Philippines is an early follower of the research on MPI. The MPI concept and methodology is ready to be presented to the Board of the Philippine Statistics Authority by the fourth quarter of this year.
“I would say that it (MPI) is more relevant in depicting poverty as it is closer to the concept of a comfortable lifestyle; if you are multidimensionally poor, then you are not enjoying a comfortable lifestyle. It is also ideal for identifying the poorest of the poor, as it depicts multiple deprivations. It also provides an objective method for identifying beneficiaries of targeted assistance programs. In addition, it makes for easier and less expensive data collection,” she explained.
The Undersecretary shared that, in 2015, NEDA sought to determine the aspirations of Filipinos over the long term, a span of 25 years. She outlined the results into three broad aspirations, as follows: to enjoy strongly-bonded relationships; to live a comfortable lifestyle; and to feel secure about the future.
“Clearly, increasing income is but one of the many factors that figure into the aspirations of Filipinos. Even then, this income should translate into a comfortable lifestyle before it can produce the desired level of satisfaction,” she said.
The event was hosted by the Government of Panama and attended by H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Varela, President of Panama, H.E. Mr. Juan Orlando Hernández, President of Honduras, and Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator.
Participants to the event shared how they are using multidimensional poverty metrics to fight the interlinked features of poverty in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event also coincided with the launch of the Global MPI 2018 Report by developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). END