NEDA Policy and Planning Group Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon visited the NEDA Regional Office (NRO) VI on July 22, 2022, where she discussed with the staff the priorities of the new administration and the framework of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

The PDP’s overall goal is to reinvigorate job creation and reduce poverty through directing the economy back to its high-growth path and economic transformation for a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society.

The plan highlights the Marcos Administration’s 8-Point Agenda that will (1) protect the purchasing power of families, (2) reduce vulnerability and mitigate scarring from Covid-19 pandemic, (3) ensure sound macroeconomic fundamentals, (4) create more jobs, (5) create quality jobs, (6) create green jobs, (7) uphold public order and safety, peace and security, and (8) ensure a level playing field.

Usec. Edillon re-echoed the optimism of NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Baliscan with his target of growing the economy by 6.5 to 8% annually through 2028.

She also discussed the Philippine Innovation Act (RA 11293) and the National Innovation Agenda Framework which adopts innovation as a vital component of the country’s development policies to drive inclusive development.

The goals of the framework are to promote a culture of strategic planning and innovation, improve innovation governance, encourage entrepreneurial attitude, explore, promote, and protect traditional knowledge, remove obstacles to innovation, strengthen partnerships, strengthen MSMEs and eliminate fragmentation of innovation policies and programs.

Apart from collaborating with other NROs and the NEDA Central Office for the PDP formulation, the NRO VI will lead the formulation of the Regional Development Plan of Western Visayas, the regional counterpart of the PDP, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2022. (IDMagno)