NEDA chief bares nat'l eco dev't plan

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines – Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr. presented here recently the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016 which articulates the country’s search for an inclusive growth and development.

Paderanga led a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) caravan team which arrived early this week in this capital city, now the newly designated official seat of regional government of Western Mindanao (WM) through an executive order issued earlier by then President Corazon Aquino and later affirmed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The caravan, aimed at “Bringing the National Plan to the Regions,” was highlighted by a day-long conference attended by Regional Development Council-9 chairperson Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Tang Uy, co-chairman Fr. Enrico Montano, NEDA region 9 director Arturo Valero and heads of various sectors in WM now also known as Zamboanga Peninsula.

Stressing that the PDP defines the nation’s quest for an inclusive growth anchored on Pres. Aquino’s “social contract with the Filipino couple,” Paderanga said the PDP is focused on the theme “Good Governance and Anti-Corruption” with an ultimate vision to “Achieve Inclusive Growth, Create Employment Opportunities and Reduce Poverty.”

The NEDA chief discussed the plan’s broad strategies that call for “the attainment of high and sustainable economic growth and provide productive employment opportunities, equalization of access to development opportunities across different income and social spectrum, and formation and implementation of effective and responsive social safety nets to catch those who fail to immediately participate in this new economic growth process.”

Paderanga also shared the key strategies to achieve the plan’s vision which include massive investment in infrastructure, transparent and responsive governance, human development and improved social services, competitiveness to generate employment and access to financing even as he highlighted the corresponding plan targets and chapters to provide the people a broad understanding of the PDP.

The plan, he added, also gives the government the chance to demonstrate its capability to provide responsive interventions where the meaningful involvement of all sectors is necessary to push development and address accompanying challenges.

The need to pursue and sustain all inclusive economic growth where no Filipino shall be left behind was also underscored by Paderanga who further clarified issues raised pertaining to the PDP such as mining, existence of corresponding local development plan, harmonization of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and procurement law, access to financing, telepono sa barangay and related communication facilities, Mindanao 2020; power, peace and order, and environment protection.