More than a hundred stakeholders of the Cagayan Valley Region convened together to assess the country’s economy and identify the constraints and bottlenecks in the development process, as well as the necessary strategic interventions and structural reforms, during the Regional Consultation on the Updating of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 and the revalidation of the PDP-Results Matrices led by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on 24 April, 2013, at the Crown Pavilion, Tuguegarao City.

“While the country is gaining positive perception in the global arena, the Philippines is still lagging behind vis-à-vis our neighboring countries. Through the mid-term updating of the PDP, we must be able to put emphasis on the necessary measures to ensure our sustained economic growth and that it is inclusive,” said NEDA OIC-Regional Director Ferdinand P. Tumaliuan in his welcome remarks.

The PDP Midterm Update shall continue to focus on the President’s Social Contract which envisions an inclusive growth. To achieve this, three core targets are laid out: high and sustained growth (7-8%); generate mass employment (Reduce unemployment rate to 6.8-7.2%); and reduce poverty levels (16.6% by 2015) and attainment of MDG targets.

To clearly define “inclusive growth,” Ms. Zemma Ardaniel of NEDA-Central Office provided a brief background on the framework of Inclusive Growth and the Plan updating process. “The draft PDP Midterm Update is expected to be printed by December 2013. After its approval, the RDP revision shall be undertaken taking into consideration the PDP’s national development agenda,” she added.

The body were grouped into six planning committees (PC) focusing on the identified key elements, the same PCs during the pre-consultation conducted last April 18. Each PC discussed the initial outputs of the technical group who attended said pre-consultation and added recommendations to further enhance the region’s inputs to the national document.

Among their major concerns include: dynamic participation of and cooperation between among the HEIs, strengthened SUC mandate, empowerment of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), road improvements, construction and development of major regional infrastructure, increased sanitary facilities, construction and rehabilitation of irrigation systems and facilities, intensified human rights advocacy at the local level, land conversion for appropriate industrial use, proper disposal of agriculture wastes, among others.