A database software programme, initially intended to monitor goals for children and women, will likely be adopted as the main tool to assess the progress of the Philippines in achieving targets of the Millennium Development Goals.

DevInfo (Development Information) is now being rolled-out worldwide by the United Nations. In the Philippines, a preceding version called ChildInfo had been widely adopted by the National Economic and Development Authority and selected local governments as a database tool.

Monitoring of the progress of the country toward achieving the MDG is a task jointly undertaken by the country’s policy-making agencies, data collecting offices, and departments. The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) is currently updating its own database with MDG indicators. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/stats/mdg/default.asp)

At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, leaders and representatives of UN state parties committed to the eradication of poverty and the worst forms of human deprivation by 2015. The summit resulted in an enumeration of the Millennium Development Goals. The MDG focus the efforts of the world community on achieving significant, measurable improvements in people’s lives. http://ww.un.org/millenniumgoals

DevInfo is an application that allows users to store, sort, and present statistical data into charts, tables and thematic maps. DevInfo acts as a database management software and can be further utilized as an advocacy tool to encourage decision-makers to make evidence-based responses.

“While we recognize that the Philippines has a robust monitoring system, we are exploring how DevInfo can contribute to strengthening this system,” says Dr. Nicholas Alipui, UNICEF Representative to the Philippines.