Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia yesterday called on foreign investors and business leaders to support the Philippines in realizing its collective goals anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 during the Sixth Anniversary Arangkada Philippines Forum 2017 held at the Marriott Hotel.
In his keynote speech, the country’s chief economist said the current administration’s targets and goals are highly feasible and sustainable.
“Let us arangkada and work together to sustain the upward trajectory of economic growth. We are confident that we can do it,” Pernia said.
He also said that the 0-10 point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Duterte administration has been repeated over and over again to the point that it has already become a household word. “Repetition is the mother of mastery,” he added.
Pernia reiterated the need for development in all 17 regions of the country based on the Regional Development Plans (RDPs) which the NEDA had taken the lead in crafting.
The RDP of each region contains the region’s overall framework, sectoral and spatial strategies, interventions and priority programs aligned with the goals and objectives under the PDP.
Pernia said the PDP has so far been translated to 5,600 projects across the country, in addition to the 75 flagship projects of the Duterte administration. “These include small projects like irrigation systems, road widening, and so on,” he said.
The annual forum organized by the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines was also attended by Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno.
Nina Catherine P. Calleja, DIS-PRD, loc. 103
Photos by Leody P. Barcelon