The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) initiated a consultative workshop as part of its mandate to review and update the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). This was conducted on July 26, 2019 at the SEDA Atria Hotel in Iloilo City led by the NEDA Region 6. The activity was attended by over 100 participants from regional line agencies, LGUs and private sector groups.
In her welcome remarks, Ms. Donna Rose G. Ratilla, former Co-Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC-VI) stressed that the regional consultation on the PDP Midterm Update was to generate opinions from stakeholders and ensure that pressing regional issues and concerns are considered in the policies, strategies, programs and projects that will be embodied in the updating of the PDP.
ASEC Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos of the NEDA Central Office presented the accomplishments of the country and the region on major indicators as well as the Relevant Trends and Development by 2022 and Beyond through the PESTLE analysis which identified the political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental aspects that will likely impact the country in the coming years and, hence, must be considered in the updating of the PDP.
RD Ro-Ann A. Bacal of NEDA-VI presented the socio-economic profile, the trends and prospects for Western Visayas by 2022, and presented the regional PESTLE analysis highlighting possible external influences on the development of Region 6.
Four (4) workshop groups discussed the following chapters of the plan: Economic Development, Macroeconomic Policy, National Competition Policy and Technology & Innovation; Human Capital Development, International Migration & Development and Cultural Awareness; Infrastructure Development, and Ecological Integrity; and Citizen-centered, clean and efficient delivery of public goods and services, Administration of Justice and Peace and Security and Public Order.
Here, agency central office representatives discussed the assessment and strategies covering assigned PDP chapters. Reactors from the RDC and non-RDC members were pre-selected and gave their expert analysis, actual experiences, and feedback on the presentations made. The major outputs of the workshops included regional issues needing interventions at the national level either in the form of policy reforms or changes in programs and projects. These issues will be considered later in the mid-term updating of the Western Visayas Regional Development Plan, 2017-2022. Already, focus group discussions with regional stakeholders have been scheduled to discuss the regional chapters of the RDP.
