Regional Offices of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) have launched their respective Regional Development Plans (RDP) 2017–2022 beginning this July, as NEDA brings the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017–2022 to the regions.
The RDPs are development blueprints of the country’s regions patterned after the national plan, or the PDP.
The PDP is anchored on the Duterte administration’s 0-10-point Socioeconomic Agenda and is the first medium-term development plan geared towards the country’s long-term vision, AmBisyon Natin 2040.
“These regional roadshows are part of the agency’s efforts to vigorously promote the implementation of the PDP, which was approved by the NEDA Board in February and publicly launched on June 2. The RDPs complement the PDP in promoting inclusive growth, as these focus on regional challenges while being aligned with the national plan,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said.
He added that the RDPs were crafted through intensive multisector and multilevel consultations.
Last Friday, July 7, NEDA Regional Office XI launched the Davao Regional Development Plan 2017–2022, with the theme “Tara Na! AmBisyon, Aksyunan Nato Karon!” (Tayo Na! AmBisyon, Aksyunan Natin Ngayon!).
A motorcade was held from People’s Park in Davao City to the SMX Davao Convention Center. This was followed by an expo and forum that showcased the pillars of the RDP— enhancing the moral and social fabric (malasakit), reducing inequality (pagbabago), and increasing growth potential (patuloy na pag-unlad).
Over 300 people joined the event coming from various sectors, including the government, academe, and the private sector.
In her keynote speech in Davao, NEDA Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla highlighted that the PDP and the RDPs will enable the country to work in a concerted manner “to bring about the change that we all want to see.”
“The support of our local government units, regional institutions, and private institutions is essential in translating our vision into a plan of action—for us to ultimately see and feel the results,” Sombilla said.
Davao’s RDP targets its local economy to grow from 10.5 to 11.5 percent by 2022. It also aims to reduce poverty incidence to 13.6 percent, lower than the national target of 20 percent.
Meanwhile, the launch of the Cordillera Administration Region’s RDP is ongoing with a traditional gong relay around the region until July 14.
Other regional roadshows are slated until August, including Western Visayas (July 14), Northern Mindanao (July 18), Cagayan Valley (July 26), Zamboanga Peninsula (July 27), Central Visayas (July 31), and Caraga (August 1).
These come after the launch of the PDP last June 2 in an event titled, “Aksyon para sa AmBisyon: The Philippine Development Plan Expo.”
June’s PDP launch was attended by over 700 participants and was graced by guest speakers, including Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., who read the President’s message, Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Loren Legarda, Mr. Guillermo Luz, and Dr. Dennis Mapa.
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