NEDA cites key reforms implemented under 2017-2022 PH development plan
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The National Economic
and Development Authority cited key reforms implemented so far under the 2017-2022 Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
In his discussion during the Virtual Caravan for the Updated 2017-2022 PDP, Socioeconomic Planning Assistant Secretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos disclosed that the government instituted these through legislative acts and executive issuances.
“We list down very important reforms that would facilitate the accomplishment of the targets in the PDP and bring us closer to Ambisyon Natin 2040. Under the pillar on good governance or Malasakit, we implemented the Philippine Identification System Act to all citizens of the country. In fact, registration for this is now ongoing nationwide,” he said.
MEXICO, Pampanga A village watchman from this town was arrested by local authorities for allegedly stabbing a farmer.
Another key reform under this pillar is the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, as well as the Seal of Good Local Governance among local government units.
For the Pagbabago pillar, Abad Santos said there are a lot of reforms which back the country’s inequality reducing transformation goal.
“The important goal is we want to expand economic opportunities. However, expanding the pie is not enough. We also want to have the poor, the marginalized, the secondary pie to have increased access to economic opportunities because there is no sense in increasing the pie if it cannot be equitably shared across the different sectors and population groups,” he explained.
He cited the importance of increasing access to human capital development services like education, nutrition, and health to the poorer segment and to the marginalized segment of the society.
Among these reforms are the First 1,000 Days Act, Universal Healthcare Act, First Time Jobseekers Act, Expanded Maternity Leave Act, and Telecommuting Act.
“These reforms were very helpful particularly in addressing and cushioning some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in social protection and in addressing vulnerability, we’ve had several reforms there. Among them is the Social Security Act of 2018. Because of this, we were able to have unemployment insurance that is very useful during the pandemic, and we also instituted increased coverage for social pension,” he said.
For the last pillar which is increasing the growth potential or Patuloy na Pag-unlad, Abad Santos said the most important reforms include the Philippine Innovation Act, Innovative Startup Act, and Balik Scientist Act.
“In this pillar, it’s also important to look at innovation. We need to promote technology adoption or increase our promotion, intensify our promotion of technology adoption and stimulating innovation out of these different technologies,” he said.
Abad Santos said that for the remaining period of the implementation, the government updated the plan to tailor-fit interventions to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic towards a healthy and resilient Philippines.
“Although we have enacted a lot of reforms for the first three years, we also need to enact remaining reforms. Part of this is the need to ease financial capital constraints resulting from the pandemic so that we can bounce back economically,” he said. (PIA 3)