MANILA, Philippines - The president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) expressed confidence that most developing countries, including the Philippines, will achieve its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as initially targeted.

According to Haruhiko Kuroda, almost all developing countries in Asia are "currently making progress" when it comes to MDGs, particularly those economies that managed to post positive growth amid the global slowdown.

"Most developing countries may achieve the MDGs by their target year," Kuroda told reporters on Thursday.

The MDGs, an international agreement which spans from 2004 to 2015, are aimed at assessing social problems and promoting growth in basic sectors. The goals touch on hunger, education, gender equality, and health care, among others.

Despite his optimism, Kuroda urged governments to spur economic growth and promote social welfare to increase the chances of achieving the MDGs on time.

Earlier, a research group warned that the Philippines' declining tax effort may be a major roadblock to achieving the MDGs by 2015.

According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the country's tax effort has been slipping since 2006 at 14.3% of gross domestic product (GDP). Tax effort refers to the ratio of tax collections to a country's GDP.

If government efforts to raise revenues for infrastructure and social services are not working, all the more will it be unable to finance initiatives to achieve the MDGs, PIDS said.

Due to the impact of recent storms, the Philippines' tax effort is seen to have reached 11% last year, lagging behind most of its Asian neighbors.