The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) convened the heads of its regional offices and technical staffs to formulate a sustainable development roadmap for the Philippines that streamlines both national and regional development plans.

“The government aims to bring development planning to the next level by considering the interplay of economy, society, and environment,” said the NEDA Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, Rosemarie G. Edillon in a workshop conducted from April 4-6, 2017 at the Court Meridian Hotel and Suites in Subic Bay, Olongapo.

She noted that this roadmap will enable the country to maximize the current economic momentum to push its development further toward enabling Filipinos to attain a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay.”

In the workshop, participants looked into the details of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and compared the goals, targets, and indicators with those of the 2017-2022 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the Regional Development Plans (RDPs).

Participants noted the alignment of the 2030 Agenda, PDP, and the RDPs and that these are all consistent with the three pillars of “Malasakit” (enhancing the social fabric), “Pagbabago” (inequality-reducing transformation), and “Patuloy na Pag-unlad” (increasing growth potential). The next step is to design flagship programs that involve all three pillars.

Participants also noted the need to ensure that the monitoring and evaluation system for the international commitments and the national and regional plans will be efficient.

They agreed to carefully study and recommend appropriate institutional arrangements to ensure continuity and sustainability of initiatives, considering that the 2030 Agenda and AmBisyon Natin 2040 span more than one political administration.

On October 24, 2016, President Rodrigo R. Duterte directed the NEDA through the Memorandum Circular no. 12, s. 2016, to formulate the country’s medium-term development plan based on the 0-10 Socioeconomic Agenda, the AmBisyon Natin 2040, and the 2030 Agenda.

At the end of the workshop. Edillon said that the roadmap, including the proposed institutional arrangements, will be presented to the NEDA Board.

– END –