Memorandum Circular No. 165 National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty and Participation in the Stand Up, Take Action Campaign

October 8, 2008

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 165

OBSERVANCE OF THE NATIONAL WEEK FOR OVERCOMING EXTREME POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE STAND UP, TAKE ACTION CAMPAIGN

WHEREAS, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation No. 717, Series of 2004, declaring October 17 to 23 of every year as the "National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty"; HSaIDc

WHEREAS, the general objective of the Proclamation is to unite and gather the support of all sectors of society — national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, private sector and the poor communities themselves — in the fight against extreme poverty;

WHEREAS, Presidential Proclamation No. 269, Series of 1993, declared October 17 of each year as the "National Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty";

WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly also declared December 22, 2005 as the "International Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty";

WHEREAS, the Philippines is a signatory to the Millennium Declaration in 2000 along with 191 countries;

WHEREAS, the United Nations Systems in the Philippines shall stage the Stand Up, Take Action campaign in the Philippines on 17-19 October 2008 in a bid to set a Guiness World Record of gathering 15 million Filipinos; and promote greater effort and attention to the achievement of Millenium Development Goals 2 (universal primary education) and 5 (maternal health) as these are the goals that the country needs to exert much effort for their achievement by 2015. CIDcHA

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, all government agencies are hereby directed to observe the commemoration of the National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty by hanging banners or streamers in strategic areas, participating in the NAPC initiated National People's Day (Quezon City) and wreath-laying ceremony at Luneta, and by taking part in the various activities in support of the Stand Up, Take Action campaign.

Manila, October 8, 2008

ATTACHMENT

NATIONAL WEEK FOR OVERCOMING EXTREME POVERTY

Stand Up Take Action (SUTA)

Name of Organization:

____________________________________________________________________

Name of Representative:

____________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

E-mail address: _______________________________________________________

Tel Nos. _____________________________________________________________

Mobile ______________________________________________________________

Title/s of your Organization's Stand Up Take Action Event/s:

____________________________________________________________________

Location of Stand Up, Take Action moment:

____________________________________________________________________

Time/Date of Stand Up, Take Action moment:

____________________________________________________________________

Number of people that will participate:

____________________________________________________________________

Write a brief overview of the event (including where it will be, how many people will participate, celebrity/high-profile participation, notable highlights): ____________________________________________________________________________________________

To be registered, kindly complete this portion of the form and submit by fax or by e-mail on or before 03 October 2008, Friday

(This portion is to be filled up after event completion)

Atand Up Take Action (SUTA)

Title of the Event:_____________________________________________________

Please indicate the number of people that participated:

____________________________________________________________________

Certified by (independent witness):

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Designation: _________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________

To be counted, kindly complete this portion and submit the whole form by fax or e-mail before 8 p.m., 19 October 2008, SUNDAY

UN SUTA Secretariat
	Tel. Nos.	Fax Nos.
Secretariat	901-1403/05/06	901-0404
UNDP	901-0100	901-0200
UNFPA	901-0300/0303	901-0348
UNICEF	901-0124	901-0196
UNIC	338-5520/22	338-0177

NAPC SUTA Secretariat	426-5028/426-5249

e-mail:[email protected] or [email protected]

What is STAND UP & TAKE ACTION

In September 2000, world leaders from 191 member countries of the UN committed to achieve the MDGs.

STAND UP, TAKE ACTION (SUTA) coincides with the annual observance of the National Week for Overcoming Poverty, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the White Band Day of the Global Call To Action Against Poverty on 17 October.

This 2008. . .

On 17-19 October, join millions all over the world and BE COUNTED! Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)!

Help break last year's world record of 43 million! Send a louder message to the world and our leaders to end poverty and achieve the MDGs by 2015!

What are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?

The MDGs are a set of eight time-bound, concrete and specific targets aimed at significantly reducing, if not decisively eradicating poverty, by the year 2015:

* While the Philippines is progressing well in its bid to achieve most of the MDGs, faster pace of gains is urgently needed to reach 2015 targets, especially because poverty has increased in the country. Specifically, current trending shows that targets for MDG 2 (Achieve Universal Primary Education) and MDG 5 (Improve Maternal Health) will least likely be achieved.

Why STAND UP & TAKE ACTION?

• Worldwide 980 million people live on less than US$1 a day

• 27.6 million Filipinos are poor

• 33 out of 100 Filipinos are poor

• Only 84% of Filipino children of school age are enrolled

• Only 70% of Filipino children complete primary school

• More than 4,000 Filipino women die during pregnancy every year, or an average of 11 per day

• Poor women lack access to RH services, resulting in half a million abortions every year

• The number of HIV and AIDS cases are increasing; increase of 133% reported monthly from 2005 to July 2008

How can you participate?

1. ORGANIZE A SUTA EVENT

Here are some ideas that tie-in with this year's theme:

a. Education:

• Hold remedial classes in Science, Math & English for public elementary school students

• Donate books to far-flung rural areas

• Distribute vitamins in your community

b. Maternal Health:

• Give a lecture on reproductive health for women

• Mount medical missions for underprivileged communities

• Encourage/send pregnant women for pre-natal check-ups

• Register your event on or before 03 October 2008

• Fill out the Registration Form at the back of this brochure and fax to 901-0404 or 901-0200

• You may also email the SUTA Secretariat at [email protected] or [email protected]

• Your SUTA event can be held anywhere — just make sure it takes place within 8 a.m., 17 October, Friday to 8 p.m., 19 October, 2008, Sunday

• Perform your chosen symbolic action all at the same time, photograph or video it, and send to the Secretariat

2. JOIN A PLANNED EVENT

The UN and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) are working with partners such as schools, NGOs, businesses, faith-based organizations, and local and national government agencies. Visit [email protected] to find a SUTA event nearest you.

How can your activity be counted?

• Register your activity by filling out the Advanced Registration Form at the back of this page and submitting it to the SUTA Secretariat either by fax or e-mail.

• After the event, submit the completed Activity Tabulation Form at the back of this page, duly certified by an independent witness, to the SUTA Secretariat either by fax or e-mail on or before 8 p.m., 19 October, Sunday.

• Where possible, submit photos, videos and other documents (e.g., attendance sheets) for documentation.