The regional development councils (RDCs), which serve as the highest policy-making body governing the 17 regions in the country, now play a more significant role under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Monday.
The President made the remark in a speech at the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 Forum in Pasay City, noting the “expanded” role of RDCs in the promotion and sustainability of the socio-economic development of the regions.
“Their role in all of the economic planning of NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and the country’s economy, in general, is going to be expanded, and that will give voice to the local governments,” the President said.
The RDC serves as a forum where local initiatives can be integrated with regional and national development efforts.
In his speech, the President said the PDP “will set the Philippines towards becoming an upper-middle income country by the year 2025.”
“But beyond the economic development, the plan also focuses on social development and protection, disaster resilience, digital transformation and many other things,” said the President.
President Marcos also vowed to continue with the country’s strategy to “foster dynamic innovation ecosystems that will attract more investments and most importantly generate more good jobs.”
“We will enhance our connectivity among our islands and with the rest of the world to facilitate greater movement of goods and people to keep the economy thriving and active,” the President added.
The chief executive also noted the involvement of the private sector “in all our plans for the future.”
“It is a very simple axiomatic principle that we follow, and that is very simply that we, the government, cannot do this alone. And we must strengthen our partnerships with our private sector partners both here and abroad,” the President pointed out.
The executive order (EO) for the PDP for the period 2023-2028, signed by the President on January 27, aims to bring the country back on the high growth path and start the economic transformation for a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society. #
