NEDA Board approves 6-year development plan

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has approved the six-year Philippine Development Plan (PDP) to achieve inclusive growth and reduce poverty rate by as much as 7.6 percent.

“By the end of 2022, Filipinos will be closer to achieving their long-term aspirations,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

The NEDA Board, chaired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, approved the PDP 2017-2022 at Malacañang on February 20.

“Through this PDP, the current administration will lay a solid foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust society, and a globally-competitive knowledge economy by grounding its development thrusts on Malasakit, Pagbabago and Patuloy na Pag-unlad,” he said.

The government intends to keep the economy growing at 7 to 8 percent in the medium-term, and the poverty rate down to 14 percent from the current 21.6 percent.

It also wants the poverty incidence in rural areas reduced to 20 percent by 2022, from 30 percent in 2015, and the unemployment rate to 3-5 percent from the current 5.5 percent.

“We want the Philippines to be an upper-middle income country by 2022. With the right policies and with mutual trust between government and the citizenry, this is very possible,” said Pernia, who is also the NEDA director general.

NEDA earlier said the PDP will have 22 chapters in seven parts:

• An Introduction

• A part on Enhancing the Social Fabric (Malasakit)

• A part on Reducing Inequality in Economic Development Opportunities (Pagbabago)

• A part on Increasing Potential Economic Growth (Kaunlaran)

• A part on Enabling and Supportive Economic Environment

• A part on Foundations for Inclusive and Sustainable Development

• A Conclusion entitled Moving Forward

Among those who helped draft the plan were the Secretaries of Agrarian Reform Rafael M. Mariano, Judy M. Taguiwalo of Social Welfare and Development, Mark A. Villar of Public Works and Highways, Regina Paz  L. Lopez of Environment and Natural Resources and Fortunato T. dela Peña of Science and Technology.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. and National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon also helped draft the PPDP 2017-2022

In November, the Duterte administration convened business leaders and civil society groups to draft the PDP in pursuit of growing the economy by 7 percent a year, employment opportunities and raising 1.5 million Filipinos out of poverty.

"This PDP fleshes out the President's priority socioeconomic agenda. Importantly, it is about laying the foundations for AmBisyon Natin 2040, which articulates the Filipino people's shared aspirations for the country," Pernia said. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News