TACLOBAN CITY- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the region is seeking support from the media for it to realize its anti-poverty banner program dubbed as “AmBisyon Natin 2040.”
NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy made this appeal during their year-end press conference attended by members of the local media, information officers of different regional government offices and the Philippine Information Agency.
Uy said that by appealing to the media in the region for a successful implementation of AmBisyon Natin 2040, he recognizes the power and contribution of the media towards regional development.
“Media shape the mindset of our people. We need your support to convey the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 and AmBisyon Natin 2040,” he said.
Uy likewise disclosed the partnership between the government and the media with the re-appointment of media representative to the Regional Development Council (RDC), in the person of Louie Quebec of MBC-DyVL.
He likewise reported the RDC’s approval of the special membership of PIA-8 to the RDC during its 4th quarter meeting this year.
AmBisyon is considered by NEDA as its first 25-year long-term development plan formulated in the country’s history, working under the principle of continuity from one administration to another.
The country’s development plans usually cover the six-year term of a sitting President.
“This is the first time we have a long-term development vision to address the issue on ‘new administration, new development plan’,” Uy explained.
AmBisyon Natin 2040 was duly endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte contained under Executive Order No. 5 which he signed on October 11, 2016.
EO 5 approved and adopted AmBisyon Natin 2040, the national long-term vision as a guide for development planning.
EO 5 states that all development plans until 2040 will be anchored on this long-term vision.
It further states that these will emphasize the centrality of the Filipino people and their aspirations in the planning, design and implementation of government interventions for a “Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na buhay para sa lahat” (strongly rooted, comfortable and secure life for all).
Jam Colas, chief of NEDA-8 Development Research Division, admitted that six-year development plans do not work very effectively which urged the agency to come up with a long-term vision.
“Maybe we should do something differently on which direction we are heading,” she remarked.
The vision, she believed, is doable if “we put the right programs and policies in place.”
Colas stressed that per the NEDA study, “Eradication of corruption is the most important aspect of government service that should be addressed.”
Reiterating the target of AmBisyon Natin 2040, Colas said that the vision of eradicating poverty and making the Philippines a high-income country by 2040 or sooner could be attained only with proper action.
Among the propelling factors towards the attainment of the goals under AmBisyon Natin 2040 as cited by NEDA are strong ownership and buy-in by stakeholders and the country’s leaders over the next 25 years and that each plan must build on previous plan and not change if unnecessary.
Regional Director Uy said that disaster preparedness and risk reduction also plays a vital function in achieving the goals of the vision.
He said that among the 15 regional development plans submitted, only Eastern Visayas incorporated this aspect.
“In relief response whenever typhoons come, infrastructure should be rebuilt in a resilient manner,” Uy pointed out.
“We do not want to happen that when typhoons come, relief goods come in late,” he said.
Moral recovery, values formation and heritage and culture preservation are also in a chapter in the RDP which was acknowledged and accepted by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, according to Uy.
PIA Regional Director Alice Nicart commented, “There is nothing wrong with having ambition. We can dream as long as we want but when we wake up, we must starting making it happen.”
She said that PIA supports the plan.
NEDA Assistant Regional Director Meylene Rosales, meanwhile, expressed optimism on the success of the country’s PDP and attainment of the vision set in AmBisyon Natin 2040 with the full support of the media.
AmBisyon Natin 2040 is formulated to overturn a projection in Asia 2050 that the Philippines will be overtaken by India and Vietnam and log behind along with Mongolia and Cambodia.
Asia 2050 projects that seven economies will lead Asia’s march to prosperity namely South Korea, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand by the year 2050.
(EILEEN NAZARENO-BALLESTEROS)
