Administration crafts long-term development plan

By Iris C. Gonzales (The Philippine Star) Updated July 21, 2011 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration is now crafting a long-term development plan on the back of criticisms from the public that the government does not have an economic program for the long term.

However, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. said that with the full implementation of the Philippine Development Plan for 2011 to 2016, a more long-term development plan is underway.

“People have been asking for a longer term development plan, thinking that we haven’t thought about it. But we have,” said Paderanga.

Paderanga, who is also Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), was invited to present the PDP 2011-2016, which adopts an inclusive growth framework.

“I have actually asked the help of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED) to flesh out the country’s long-term vision for development that would guide the succeeding administrations,” said Paderanga.

The PIDS, which is one of the seven attached agencies under NEDA, is the government’s think tank that conducts research for planning and policy formulation. On the other hand, PCED is the foundation that supports the University of the Philippines-School of Economics. PIDS and PCED are currently chaired by Paderanga as NEDA director-general.

The country’s chief economist said that a more long-term development plan should also adopt an inclusive growth framework.

“We are at the point where we would like to bring along everybody. And this is the reason for the whole concept of inclusive growth. If you can bring citizens along and equip them to participate both in the market and in social interactions, then society would greatly reap social benefits,” Paderanga said .

The government is still aiming for a seven-percent to eight-percent economic growth this year despite the absence of factors this year such as strong election-related spending that allowed the economy to grow at a high of 7.3 percent last year.

Analysts have criticized the Aquino administration for not having any plan or project one year into its term.