The National Economic and Development Authority regional office in Palo, Leyte where the inter-agency technical planning groups will review the 2017-2022 Regional Development Plan. (PNA file photo)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The 2017-2022 Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan (RDP) is now up for a six-month assessment and updating after more than two years of implementation.
Since last month, workshops were being conducted for the inter-agency technical planning groups tasked to lead the updating and endorsement of the updated RDP chapters to the Regional Development Council (RDC), the region’s highest policymaking body.
Under the timetable, the updating will be completed by September 2019 and for approval during the RDC’s third quarter full council meeting in the same month.
“Updating the plan is needed to make necessary changes based on how the region fared in the first two years of RDP implementation. Technical planning groups will incorporate new concerns based on recent developments at the regional, national, and international levels,” said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Meylene Rosales, the RDC vice chair.
These changes will form part of the updated RDP to be implemented in the remaining years of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Under the 250-page RDP, the region aims to attain a 5.8- to 7-percent economic growth for 2018 to 2022 on the average.
In 2018, the regional economy grew by 5.9 percent due to accelerated performance of the services sector. This is up compared to the 1.8 growth recorded in 2017. The challenge, according to NEDA is the weakening performance of the agriculture sector.
The regional plan is considered as a “companion document” of the Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022, or within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The RDP underwent a series of consultations with the regional line agencies, local government units, business groups, religious sectors, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders prior to its finalization and approval in 2017.
The RDP, which serves as the blueprint of the region’s development direction, is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Long-Term Vision of Filipinos or AmBisyon Natin 2040, and President Duterte’s 0+10 Point Socioeconomic Agenda. (PNA)
