The NEDA Regional Office in Bicol (NRO V) recently conducted provincial roadshows on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and Regional Development Plan (RDP) for 2017-2022.
The NRO V partnered with the provincial governments of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon in undertaking the roadshows.
The roadshows commenced in Albay on July 17 followed by Sorsogon on July 18, Masbate and Catanduanes on July 19, Camarines Norte on July 20, and Camarines Sur on July 21. The roadshows started with a motorcade along the provincial centers’ main streets then forums wherein the PDP, RDP including Ambisyon Natin 2040 were presented. Close to 1,100 individuals participated in all the events wherein representatives from local government units, provincial agencies, business groups, civil society organizations, the academe, and the youth.
The conduct of provincial roadshows is one of the activities in the advocacy plan that was identified by the Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) Adhoc Committee on Advocacy (ComAd) and approved by the RDC Full Council. It aims to increase awareness of the PDP and RDP; build support and commitment towards attaining the plan objectives and the long term vision; and encourage participation in plan implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy. Meanwhile, provincial stakeholders expressed ownership of the Ambisyon Natin 2040 and commitment to attain the plan objectives by aligning their respective programs, activities, and projects with the three pillars and strategies of the RDP and PDP.
In an effort to widely disseminate the RDP and Ambisyon Natin, online advocacy campaigns were conducted prior to the roadshows. The campaign included crowdsourcing competition in logo making, feature writing, poster making, jingle making and audiovisual presentation. During the roadshow, winners of the Bicol RDP online advocacy campaign were given awards.
Meanwhile, some notable points raised during the open forum were the need for the following: (a) cascade the RDP, PDP and Ambisyon Natin 2040 to the community level; (b) engage as many stakeholders as possible in plan implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy; (c) disseminate plan implementation milestones; (d) institutionalize the long-term vision as anchor in development plans in the succeeding administrations; and (e) ensure that PDP and RDP are properly implemented in the event of a shift in the form of government to federalism.
To help in cascading and advocating the Bicol RDP and Ambisyon Natin 2040, the RDC ComAd has created and trained a multi-sectoral Speakers Bureau composed of representatives from key implementing agencies, provincial governments, and the private sector that may be tapped to engage the communities and multi-sectoral groups in implementing the Plan and sustaining the long term vision.
Anne Y. Cultivo, NEDA Bicol
Photos by NEDA Bicol