The National Economic and Development Authority launched the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, the blueprint for the country’s development under the Duterte Administration, in Pasay City, Friday.
Over 300 people from the public and private sectors attended the event, titled Aksyon para sa AmBisyon: The Philippine Development Plan Expo.
The PDP 2017–2022 largely stems from the 0-10 point Socioeconomic Agenda. It is the first of four medium-term plans that will work towards realizing AmBisyon Natin 2040, the collective vision of Filipinos over the next 25 years.
Now available online, the PDP has 21 chapters aimed at laying a strong foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society, and a globally competitive economy—all of which will enable Filipinos to achieve their aspiration of a “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay.”
The said plan is structured along the pillars of malasakit (i.e., enhancing the social fabric), pagbabago (i.e., inequality-reducing transformation), and patuloy na pag-unlad (i.e., increasing growth potential).
The PDP has set targets that the government aims to achieve.
By 2022, the Philippines will be an upper-middle income country. The growth rate of GDP is set at 7 to 8 percent in the medium term.
Overall poverty rate is targeted to decline from 21.6 percent in 2015 to 14 percent by 2022. Poverty incidence in rural areas is intended to decrease from 30 percent to 20 percent for the same period.
The unemployment rate will also go down to 3-5 percent by 2022 from 5.5 percent in 2016.
Other targets are higher trust in government and society, more resilient individuals and communities, and a greater drive for innovation.
Embedded in the PDP are bedrock strategies that provide the necessary environment for the plan to work. These include achieving peace and security, accelerating infrastructure development, building resilient communities, and ensuring ecological integrity.
“We already have the goal. Now here’s the plan to turn AmBisyon Natin 2040 into reality,” Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning Ernesto M. Pernia said.
Senator Loren Legarda, National Competitiveness Council Chairperson Guillermo Luz, and Dean Dennis Mapa of UP School of Statistics were present in the Expo and spoke on the pillars of the PDP.
The Expo also featured booths showcasing the strategies set in the PDP, as well as plans and ongoing programs of government agencies.
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Photos by Paul Torrente (DIS-MD), Leody Barcelon (DIS-OD) and Lance Agustin (DIS-DRD)