+*NEDA LAUNCHES THE PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

June 6, 2017

The National Economic and Development Authority launched the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, the
blueprint for the country’s development under the Duterte Administration, in Pasay City, Friday.

Over 300 people from the public and private sectors attended the event, titled AksyonparasaAmBisyon: The Philippine
Development Plan Expo.

The PDP 2017–2022 largely stems from the 0-10 point Socioeconomic Agenda. It is the first of four medium-term plans
that will work towards realizing AmBisyonNatin 2040, the collective vision of Filipinos over the next 25 years.

Now available online, the PDP has 21 chapters aimed at laying a strong foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and
resilient society, and a globally competitive economy—all of which will enable Filipinos to achieve their aspiration of a
“matatag, maginhawa, at panatagnabuhay.”

The said plan is structured along the pillars of malasakit (i.e., enhancing the social fabric), pagbabago (i.e., inequality-
reducing transformation), and patuloynapag-unlad (i.e., increasing growth potential).

The PDP has set targets that the government aims to achieve.

By 2022, the Philippines will be an upper-middle income country. The growth rate of GDP is set at 7 to 8 percent in the
medium term.

Overall poverty rate is targeted to decline from 21.6 percent in 2015 to 14 percent by 2022. Poverty incidence in rural
areas is intended to decrease from 30 percent to 20 percent for the same period.

The unemployment rate will also go down to 3-5 percent by 2022 from 5.5 percent in 2016.

Other targets are higher trust in government and society, more resilient individuals and communities, and a greater
drive for innovation.

Embedded in the PDP are bedrock strategies that provide the necessary environment for the plan to work. These include
achieving peace and security, accelerating infrastructure development, building resilient communities, and ensuring
ecological integrity.

“We already have the goal. Now here’s the plan to turn AmBisyonNatin 2040 into reality,” Secretary of Socioeconomic
Planning Ernesto M. Pernia said.

Senator Loren Legarda, National Competitiveness Council Chairperson Guillermo Luz, and Dean Dennis Mapa of UP
School of Statistics were present in the Expo and spoke on the pillars of the PDP.

The Expo also featured booths showcasing the strategies set in the PDP, as well as plans and ongoing programs of
government agencies.

DIS-PRD, loc. 103

Photos by Paul Torrente (DIS-MD), LeodyBarcelon (DIS-OD) and Lance Agustin (DIS-DRD)
SECRETARY PERNIA’S OPENING REMARKS AT AKSYON PARA SA AMBISYON: PDP EXPO

Fellow workers and friends from the government and the private sector, development partners, ladies and gentlemen
good afternoon.

Welcome to AksyonparasaAmBisyon. In November last year, we were here to hold a similar forum and expo and we
spoke about our long-term vision popularly known now as AmBisyonNatin 2040. For those still unfamiliar with it,
AmBisyonNatin 2040 articulates the aspirations of Filipinos for themselves and for the country all over the next 24 years
which is about a generation from now.

Executive Order No. 5 was issued by the president last year to officially adopt and widely disseminate the
AmBisyonNatin 2040

The beauty of the AmBisyonNatin 2040 is that it was shaped, and continues to be enriched, by various stakeholders.
Today, you will be given a glimpse of an important product of collective action toward our goals. You will see around you
images that symbolize how our vision has been translated into a plan of action

This is what we are celebrating today. And I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to grace this public launch
of the Philippine Development Plan, or PDP 2017-2022.

The President has issued Executive Order No. 27. Section 1 of the E.O. reads: “All departments, offices and
instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and
the local government units, whether or not they receive funding support through the General Appropriations Act, are
hereby directed to adopt and disseminate the PDP 2017-2022 and undertake efforts leading to its full implementation.”

Further, Section 2 say “All heads of departments, offices and instrumentalities of the national government, including
GOCCs are hereby directed to align their budgetary and department/corporate programs with the strategies and
activities identified in the PDP 2017-2022.”

This first of four PDPs that will work to realize AmBisyonNatin 2040, is the product of endless discussions, months of
collaboration, and sometimes even heated negotiations between and among various government agencies, the private
sector representatives, the academia, and civil society organizations all over the country.

All these wide consultations and collaboration was spurred by Memorandum Circular No. 12 also issued by the President
last year.

The chapters of the PDP – which are featured in our expo today – were written by several interagency committees, that
draw on the analyses, insights, and ideas from numerous stakeholders. It was a tedious and painstaking process, as we
tried to be as thorough as possible.

Thorough and inclusive meaning: not only in terms of who wrote each chapter, but also about what ideas went into it.
This first PDP springs from the President’s 0-10 point Socioeconomic Agenda, and is anchored on the long-term vision,
AmBisyonNatin 2040, as well as the universal Sustainable Development Goals.

This is also the first PDP to adopt a National Spatial Strategy to guide investment programming across the regions and
provinces, towards regional and rural development, which is the thrust of this administration

There is also an entire chapter on Culture and Development, and another on the fair and swift Administration of Justice.
Together with ensuring a clean, efficient and people-centered government, this will facilitate the process of enhancing
the social fabric towards having a “matatagnalipunan.
This is also the first PDP that supports the further acceleration of economic growth even beyond the Administration’s
term by promoting science, technology and the creative arts, and by reaching for and optimizing the demographic
dividend

Mind you, this was no easy task: There were “endless” and animated discussions toward producing the Plan. No
exaggeration here.

Even after the supposed “final draft” was done, there were still things that many who wanted to add, subtract, or
modify. After a few concessions, we just had to say “let’s stop it.” We needed to send the manuscript to the
printers given our tight timeline.

This isn’t to say that the Plan is finished, and set in stone. To paraphrase General George Patton’s saying, “A
good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan next week.” At one point we just had to say “Aksyunan na
natin ito.”

A plan as you know is a living document that needs to be implemented and adjusted as we go along. The
Philippine Development Plan is no different. In a couple of years, we will be doing the Midterm Review and
Update of the Plan. And beyond that, the next administrations will be crafting the next Plans, too.

But what is remarkable about anchoring medium-term plans on a long-term vision is that, regardless of who
comes next, the end goal – based on the Filipino people’s aspirations – remains the same, which is that:

“By 2040, the Philippines will be a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor. Our
peoples enjoy long and healthy lives, are smart and innovative, and live in a high-trust society.”

Filipinos want a life that is “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag.” We find that the aspirations of Filipinos are
family-centered; they want to enjoy work-life balance, so that they will have more time to bond with their
family and friends.

The aspirations also include home ownership, a steady source of income to support family and self, college
education for the children, travel and vacation opportunities, and convenient and affordable transportation.

They want to feel secure wherever they are and wherever they want to go. They want stable finances to cover
daily needs and unexpected expenses, now and in the future, including in their retirement years.

This Plan is the first of four intended to make such vision a reality.

Before I close, I would like to acknowledge with profound gratitude the people who chose to get involved, and
those who worked hard for the PDP. Many thanks to members of the Steering Committee, the different
Planning Committees, those who conducted regional consultations all over the country, the different agencies
and individuals who submitted inputs to or comments on the Plan; and the NEDA staffs, of course, who put it
all together—from compiling the data, to writing, editing, laying out the manuscript, and finally getting it
printed and delivered to you today.

As the saying goes, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

We already have the goal, now here’s the plan. The time has come to begin to turn AmBisyon Natin 2040 into
reality. Kaya nating umaksyon para sa ambisyon!

Thank you and mabuhay tayong lahat!

DIS-PRD, loc. 103

Photos by Paul Torrente (DIS-MD), Leody Barcelon (DIS-OD) and Lance Agustin (DIS-DRD)

ADB says countries look up to PH’s AmBisyon Natin

2040
March 20, 2018

The international community has a high regard for the Philippines’ AmBisyon Natin 2040 as a model for their
own development and strategic planning, outgoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Richard
Bolt said.

During his farewell reception held at the NEDA Central Office on Wednesday, Bolt highlighted AmBisyon
Natin 2040 as a landmark initiative of the Philippines.

“Ambisyon Natin 2040 is an excellent piece of work and I have to say, as we look to other countries’
development planning, the Philippine model has been the one they look up to,” Bolt said.

He also applauded the government for supporting this long-term vision through the execution of Executive
Order No. 5.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia expressed his appreciation to ADB Country Office, under the
leadership of Bolt, for its support to the Philippine government in the past years.

ADB has been a staunch supporter of the Filipino people’s dream through its unwavering support for AmBisyon Natin
2040, as well as for the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022,” the NEDA Official said.

Bolt also made notable contributions in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda and in efforts towards the
rehabilitation of Marawi.

He was appointed Country Director on March 21, 2014.

Ryan Jose Calubad, DIS-PRD, loc. 103

Photos by Leody P. Barcelon

AmBisyon Natin 2040 represents the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for
themselves and for the country in the next 25 years. It describes the kind of life that people want to live, and
how the country will be by 2040. As such, it is an anchor for development planning across at least four
administrations.

AmBisyon Natin 2040 is a picture of the future, a set of life goals and goals for the country. It is different from
a plan, which defines the strategies to achieve the goals. It is like a destination that answers the question
“Where do we want to be?”. A plan describes the way to get to the destination; AmBisyon Natin 2040 is the
vision that guides the future and is the anchor of the country’s plans.

AmBisyon Natin 2040 is the result of a long-term visioning process that began in 2015. More than 300 citizens
participated in focus group discussions and close to 10,000 answered the national survey. Technical studies
were prepared to identify strategic options for realizing the vision articulated by citizens. The exercise
benefitted from the guidance of an Advisory Committee composed of government, private sector, academe, and
civil society.

The life of all Filipinos in 2040:

Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay

By 2040, Filipinos enjoy a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life.

In 2040, we will all enjoy a stable and comfortable lifestyle, secure in the knowledge that we have enough for
our daily needs and unexpected expenses, that we can plan and prepare for our own and our children’s future.
Our family lives together in a place of our own, and we have the freedom to go where we desire, protected and
enabled by a clean, efficient, and fair government.

Filipinos are strongly rooted: matatag. Filipino families live together; there is work-life balance so that there
is time to spend with family even for members who work. On weekends, families and friends enjoy time
together in parks and recreational centers. It is a high-trust society with a strong sense of community. There are
volunteer opportunities, and Filipinos spend time to serve the community, help others who are in need, and
contribute to various causes.

Filipinos are comfortable: maginhawa. No one is poor, no one is ever hungry. Filipino families live in
comfortable homes with the desired amenities and secure tenure. Families and friends are within reach because
transport is convenient and affordable, and they can take a vacation together within the country and abroad.
Children receive quality education so that they realize their full potentials and become productive members of
society. Decent jobs that bring sustainable income are available, including opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Filipinos are secure: panatag. Filipinos feel secure over their entire lifetime. They expect to live long and
enjoy a comfortable life upon retirement. There are resources to cover unexpected expenses, and there are
savings. They feel safe in all places in the country. Filipinos trust their government because it is free of
corruption and provides service to all its citizens equally.

Matatag

 Family is together
 Time with friends
 Work-life balance
 Volunteering
Maginhawa

 Free from hunger and poverty

 Secure home ownership
 Good transport facilities
 Travel and vacation

Panatag

 Enough resources for day-to-day needs, unexpected expenses and savings

 Peace and security
 Long and healthy life
 Comfortable retirement

Realizing the AmBisyon

All sectors of society, whether public or private, should direct their efforts towards creating opportunities for Filipinos to
enjoy a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay. Government, in particular, must use its tools of fiscal, monetary
and regulatory policies to steer the development path towards enabling Filipinos to attain their AmBisyon. This pertains
to all dimensions of development: economic, human and physical capital, institutional, social and cultural.
By 2040, the Philippines is a prosperous middle class society where no one is poor. People live long and healthy lives and
are smart and innovative. The country is a high-trust society where families thrive in vibrant, culturally diverse, and
resilient communities.

Filipinos live in a prosperous, predominantly middle class society where no one is poor.
Economic growth must be relevant, inclusive and sustainable. Over the next 25 years (until 2040), per capita income
must increase by at least three-fold. More than the increase in income, economic growth must progressively improve
the quality of life of the majority of Filipinos.

AmBisyon can be partly achieved by having competitive enterprises that offer quality goods and services at
affordable prices. Government must encourage investments in these sectors by improving market linkages,
simplifying government procedures, and facilitating access to finance. These should be complemented by
appropriate human capital development, science, technology and innovation. Following are the priority sectors
that have direct impact on AmBisyon:

Housing and Urban Development

Construction, construction-related
manufacturing, house development-related manufacturing, and utilities (electricity, gas, and water).

Manufacturing

Food processing, housing related, construction-related,

transport manufacturing, and
other manufacturing.

Connectivity

Roads and bridges, port,

airports, vehicles, transport systems, and communication.
Education Services

Formal education and re-tooling services.

Tourism and Allied Services

Resort, rest-recreation hotels,

accommodation, travel and tour
cultural shows, heritage sites, etc.

Agriculture

Food production, commercial and industrial crop, agricultural

biotechnology, etc.

Health and Wellness Services

Primary, secondary, and tertiary care, pharmaceuticals, wellness facilities, sports and fitness facilities, etc.

Financial Services

Consumer financing, enterprise financing, and insurance savings mobilization.

Government must also ensure that economic growth is broad-based across sectors and regions; it must result in
a more equal income distribution. Moreover, there should be aggressive interventions to increase opportunities
for the poor to participate in the growth process even as they are protected against the negative impact of
economic and political instabilities, natural and man-made calamities. Poverty must be eradicated by 2040, if
not earlier.
It must also be recognized that certain individuals cannot immediately participate in the growth process. For
infants and children, there is the requisite care, guidance, health and education services until they become
mature enough. It is important that parents and families should be able to provide these, although government
should stand ready to fill the gap. A major intervention, therefore, is for parents to adequately prepare for
having a family.

Filipinos live a long and healthy life.

A long and healthy life allows people to realize their full potential and to enjoy the attainment of their AmBisyon for
many years. This is borne out of healthy lifestyle choices. New products and processes that are safer and cleaner, and
certainly products that promote good health, are needed as well.

Policies that promote work-life balance can reduce the strain on people’s health. Filipinos must also be given
more affordable, clean and safe options for rest and recreation, like open spaces, nature parks and public sports
and fitness facilities. In case of illness, Filipinos must have access to affordable and good quality healthcare.

Ensuring the quality of health care and health-related products and the safety of other products is the
responsibility of government as well

Filipinos are smart and innovative.

Well-educated, innovative Filipinos will continuously improve the quality of life in the Philippines. If education
is the process of facilitating the “acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits”1 , formal education
is the structured method of facilitating the acquisition of a select set of such knowledge, skills, values, beliefs
and habits. Government, therefore, must be proactive in setting the agenda for education. It is, after all, about
molding the future Filipino and creating the future Philippine society.

More than ensuring that Filipino students acquire the foundational literacies (reading, numeracy, scientific
literacy, ICT literacy, economic and financial literacy, cultural and civic literacy), the formal education system
must also ensure that students obtain competencies (critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity,
communication, collaboration) and develop character qualities (curiosity, initiative, persistence and grit,
adaptability, leadership, social and cultural awareness)2 . This may require a revision of the curriculum content,
but more importantly, the mode of delivery. At the same time, there must be access to lifelong learning
opportunities so that competencies are continuously upgraded and updated
Filipinos live in a high-trust society.

A high-trust society allows Filipinos to enjoy a panatag na buhay together with their families. Extending to the
bigger community, a high trust society equals a matatag na pamayanan.

A high-trust society allows people to see to their economic pursuits, secure in the knowledge that they will be
able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. However, societal ties must be strengthened where every Filipino cares for
the plight of his fellow Filipino. Every Filipino must feel upset if another Filipino is found hungry and poor, or
unable to recover from unfortunate events.

A caring society does not evolve overnight; it must be cultivated. Venues and opportunities for interpersonal
interaction must be provided. But usually, it takes root from building trust in established institutions like
government. Government must therefore begin the process of confidence-building by being clean, fair and
citizen-centered. After all, a high-trust society is the most durable bedrock for vibrant, culturally diverse, and
resilient communities of the Philippines by 2040– hopefully, sooner.