Neda calls on private sector to boost programs in provinces

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) called on the private sector to boost its activities especially in the provinces to promote the administration’s agenda of inclusive growth.

During Wednesday’s 8th Regional Development Council-Private Sector Representatives’ (RDC-PSR) National Convention in Panglao, Bohol, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said the private sector is able to help the government by bringing in their innovation and expertise in carrying out public-private partnership projects.

“Our partners in the private sector play a big role in the development process and thus in realizing our vision for the country, the AmBisyon Natin 2040. We need to start working outside of urban centers, however, and tap the potential of fringe regions,” Pernia said in his keynote address.

AmBisyon Natin 2040 envisions Filipinos as enjoying a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life.

Pernia encouraged private partners to continue contributing to economic growth by creating jobs, promoting innovation, providing skills training, delivering quality health services, and providing additional infrastructure financing through publicprivate partnerships.

Meanwhile, Pernia stressed that the hallmark of the administration’s socioeconomic agenda is rural and regional development that will reduce poverty and inequality across the regions.

“This is why the new PDP 2017-2022 employs a National Spatial Strategy (NSS). The NSS describes geographic challenges, as well as opportunities for economic growth,” Pernia said as he discussed the initiatives detailed in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

The main strategies of the NSS are maximizing the benefits of scale and agglomeration economies, connecting settlements to form efficient networks, and making vulnerability reduction an integral part of development. NEDA