Overhaul of 2001 IPP completed by BOI, NEDA

The Board of Investments (BOI) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) have finally completed their overhaul of the 2001 Investment Priority Plan (IPP).

This was announced over the weekend by BOI managing head Vincent Perez who said that the IPP listing has been trimmed down from 148 to just 46.

"Most of the listings that were removed were the regional priorities which composed nearly two-thirds of the 2000 IPP," he said.

The new list, Perez said, has been forwarded to Malacañang and would hopefully be signed by President Arroyo this week.

"The parameters used to determine the final list of the IPP were the mandatory inclusions, support to government programs and the regional list," Perez said.

The mandatory inclusion resulted in the retention of activities covered by law that specifically require inclusion in the IPP. Those that were deleted from the list were sectors which laws provide optional listing.

The second parameter of the listing wherein that sector gives support to government programs, Perez explained, resulted in the grant of priority to activities that were identified to be reflective of the thrusts of the administration such as drugs and medicines, mass housing, infrastructure and the like.

As for the regional listing, Perez said, the focus was given on the industry cluster program but with a limit of only one of two priority sectors based on existing natural clusters.

The whole list of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Perez said, was retained.