NEDA OK’s Duterte gov’t economic blueprint

THE NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved in its meeting last Monday night the blueprint of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration to fire up economic growth to a faster pace while lifting more Filipinos out of poverty, the socioeconomic planner announced yesterday.

NEDA said its board, which Mr. Duterte heads, approved the Philippine Development Plan ( PDP) 2017- 2022 at its Feb. 20 meeting in Malacañan Palace.

Also approved in that meeting, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said in his regular press briefing yesterday, were executive orders on the 2017-2020 Comprehensive Tariff Program and the World Trade Organization Information Technology Agreement 2 which is expected to help boost sales abroad of Philippine technology products.

The new PDP affirms the state economic managers’ decision late last year to target 7-8% annual economic growth until 2022, when this administration steps down (compared to a 6.2% annual average in the last six years), for national poverty rate to drop to 14% from 21.6% in 2015, for poverty incidence in rural areas to fall to 20% from 30% in the same periods, and for unemployment rate to ease to 3-5% by 2022 from 5.5% currently.

“And then, for areas outside NCR (National Capital Region or

Metro Manila), the focus would be on the quality of employment. And so we want underemployment rate outside NCR to be between 16-18% (from 19.7% in 2016),” NEDA Deputy Director General Rosemarie G. Edillon said in a telephone interview, noting that areas outside Metro Manila are “highly agricultural”.

The agriculture sector has historically accounted for up to a third of the country’s jobs but contributes only a tenth to gross domestic product.

The PDP has seven main parts: an overview of the economy, development challenges that lie ahead, as well as development strategies spelled out in chapters on enhancing social fabric, inequality-reducing transformation, increasing growth potential, enabling and supportive economic environment, and foundations for inclusive and sustainable development.

After minor revisions are made, NEDA will draft an executive order that will mandate all government agencies to align programs and projects with PDP.