NEDA-6 consults stakeholders on PDP

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-6 regional office hosted a consultative workshop as part of its mandate to review and update the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

This event was held July 26, 2019 at SEDA Atria Hotel in Iloilo City. The activity was attended by over 100 participants from regional line agencies, LGUs and private sector groups.

In her welcome remarks, Donna Rose G. Ratilla, former Co-Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-6, stressed that the regional consultation on the PDP Midterm Update aimed 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.

Assistant Sec. Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos of the NEDA Central Office presented the accomplishments of the country and the region on major indicators.

He also presented 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.

NEDA-6 regional director Ro-Ann A. Bacal presented the socio-economic profile, the trends and prospects for Western Visayas by 2022 and the regional PESTLE analysis highlighting possible external influences on the development of Region 6.

Four 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 stakeholders have been scheduled to discuss the chapters of the RDP.