MANILA, Philippines - Economists and former government officials are divided on the ways the Philippines can achieve its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets, a set of measurement that focuses on eight targets by 2015.

In their presentations at the annual meeting of National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, the presenters admitted there is little time left for the country to comply with the targets and there is little data to work on to find an appropriate solution.

For instance, Raul Fabella, a professor at the University of the Philippines-Diliman School of Economics, said there is little data to reflect the effect of the microinitiatives of nongovernment organizations on poverty eradication, such as those groups that promote microfinance and microenterprise in the villages.

“There is a good deal of disagreement about whether the effect really gives positive impact on poverty eradication,” Fabella said, adding that there is a void on the effect of micro projects on poverty incidence.