MORE than economic targets, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the success of the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) will be based on its impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos.
In his speech during the PDP 2023-2028 Forum at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Marcos assured people the goal of his administration will be to “unburden the life” of the public.
“Their struggles are embedded in their respective daily battles: How do I make ends meet? How can I bring food to the table? What is my future going to look like? Will my children live in a better Philippines than the one that I grew up in?” Marcos said.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my firm belief that answering these questions will be the defining challenge for us who are called to serve and will be the barometer through which the government will be measured,” he added.
The President made the pronouncement after drawing public criticism last week for touting the country’s 7.6-percent economic growth last year, while the public struggled with rising inflation.
People’s aspirations
The new PDP, Marcos said, will reflect the “aspirations of the people,” which includes a reinvigorated job creation and accelerated poverty reduction by boosting the country’s economic growth and transformation.
The President said the plan will also ensure social development and protection, disaster resilience, digital transformation, and inter-island connectivity.
“We can talk about economic policies and obscure numbers and data as long as we want to. But it is the life of the ordinary Filipino, more than just the numbers and the realm of data and statistics. It is something that is deeply personal to all of us. It is something that we know requires action,” Marcos said.
Last week, Marcos signed Executive Order No. 14 for the approval and adoption of the PDP 2023-2028.
He noted the new plan was a result of the government consultation with stakeholders.
In partnership with local government units (LGU), and the private sector, Marcos said he is hopeful the new PDP will be successfully implemented.
“These are truly bold plans, but I have the confidence in the brilliant minds who will become our partners in realizing the vision contained in this document and faith in the capacity of our people,” Marcos said.
“Together, let us channel our energies in creating an economy that works for everyone and gives every Filipino, no matter their circumstances, a better life,” he added.
1st-quarter timeline
Government agencies will have until the first quarter of the year to come out with their priority programs for them to meet the targets set under the PDP of 2023 to 2028.
Under his Executive Order (EO) No. 14, President Marcos ordered all heads of all national government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), other national government offices and instrumentalities, government corporate entities (GCEs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and local government units (LGUs) to come out with their Public Investment Program (PIP) 2023-2028.
“Whether or not they receive funding support through the General Appropriations Act (GAA), [the agencies] are hereby directed to adopt and disseminate the PDP 2023-2028 and undertake efforts leading to its full implementation,” according to the three-page EO.
The PIP contains the rolling list of priority programs and projects for the concerned government offices.
The latest PIP should be completed on or before March, and will be updated annually or when deemed necessary by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“This will facilitate the coordination and the alignment of all departments and all agencies in government to a single plan so that we are all working in the same direction,” Marcos said in his message announcing the approval of the new PDP.
The PDP is anchored on “AmBisyon Natin 2040,” and aims to “bring back the country to a high-growth trajectory and more importantly, enable economic and social transformation for a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society.”
It will also focus on President Marcos’ 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, which seeks to “reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction while addressing the issues brought by the pandemic.”
Among its targets contained in the new PDP is to bring the country’s gross domestic product to 6.5 to 8 percent and unemployment rate to just 4 to 5 percent by 2028.
EO 14 was signed by Marcos on Jan. 27, but was only released to the media last Monday.