National development plan until 2028 ready by December

MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) plans to unveil by December the country’s development blueprint for next year until 2028.

“We are formulating the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 to 2028. We hope to finish it before the end of the year. Actually, our commitment is to have the ceremonial signing by the second week of December,” NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said during the 2020 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) Data Dissemination Forum.

The NEDA, which is mandated to spearhead the formulation of the PDP in collaboration with other government agencies, the private sector and local government units, has been directed by the President during his State of the Nation Address last July to complete the plan within the year.

Edillon said the upcoming PDP would focus on economic transformation to achieve a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society.

The PDP will follow the eight-point agenda of the current administration to address short-term and medium-term constraints to economic growth.

She said challenges in the short term that need to be addressed are inflation due to the supply chain disruptions amid the Russia-Ukraine war, scarring from the COVID-19 pandemic, including learning and health losses, and the fiscal bind.

In the medium term, she said the aim is to create more quality and green jobs.

As the PDP aims to focus on economic transformation, she said statistics, particularly the 2019 to 2022 editions of the ASPBI, would be important in determining the real impact of the pandemic on the economy.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) chief Dennis Mapa said the results of the 2020 ASPBI would have a significant contribution to the crafting of the PDP, particularly in the formulation and implementation of the country’s programs, policies and projects for economic development.