Flagship list weighs project readiness, job creation
T
HE “readiness” of projects as well as their contribution to the creation of high-quality jobs are among the criteria that the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) will use to parse the long list of infrastructure projects eyed for inclusion in the administration’s own “flagship” projects. On Monday, Neda Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan told reporters on the sidelines of the formal launch of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), that Neda has received a number of priority projects from
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various agencies and Regional Development Councils (RDCs) for the Public Investment Program (PIP). Out of the PIP, the accompanying document of the PDP that outlines the projects and programs to be undertaken to meet the mediumterm development objectives of the government, the government will carve out a shorter list to be dubbed the Marcos administration’s flagship projects. “We are developing those criteria right now but obviously, it has to be sensitive to the goals and objectives of the PDP. We have identified
in the PDP...the constraints to our medium-term development, what the pressing needs are and what it takes to achieve those targets, the job targets, the generation of high quality jobs and the reduction of poverty to single digit level,” Balisacan explained. Project readiness is also an important consideration in choosing which projects to undertake, he added. This means that projects to be chosen could already have feasibility studies or are in more advanced stages of development. “Preparing projects takes time,
especially if they don’t have feasibility studies yet,” Balisacan said. In Frankfurt, Germany last week, Balisacan mentioned that government agencies have identified over 3,600 projects, worth $372 billion, for inclusion in the Public Investment Program (PIP) and the Three-year Rolling Infrastructure Plan (TRIP). Balisacan said this list includes 206 projects worth $159 billion that will be part of the Marcos administration’s own “flagship” projects. See “Flagship,” A2
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‘DEVT PLAN MEASURED BY ITS IMPACT ON LIVES’ w
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Tuesday, January 31, 2023
P25.00 nationwide | 4 sections 30 pages |
Vol. 18 No. 108
ENTICING VISITORS Foreign travelers go through immigration inspection upon arrival at the Naia Terminal 1 in Parañaque City. Malacañang has approved the Private Sector Advisory Council Tourism Sector’s recommendation to extend visa privileges to select foreign nationalities as well as a tax refund scheme for shoppers in a bid to attract more international travelers to the Philippines. NONIE REYES
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By Samuel P. Medenilla
@sam_medenilla
ORE than economic targets, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the success of the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) will be based on its impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos. In his speech during the PDP 2023-2028 Forum at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Marcos assured people the goal of his administration will be to “unburden the life” of the public. “Their struggles are embedded in their respective daily battles: How do I make ends meet? How can I bring food to the table? What is my future going to look like? Will my children live in a better Philippines than the one that I grew up in?” Marcos said. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my firm belief that answering these questions will be the defining challenge for us who are called to serve and will be the barometer through which the government will be measured,” he added. The President made the pronouncement after drawing public criticism last week for touting the country’s 7.6-percent economic
growth last year, while the public struggled with rising inflation.
People’s aspirations
THE new PDP, Marcos said, will reflect the “aspirations of the people,” which includes a reinvigorated job creation and accelerated poverty reduction by boosting the country’s economic growth and transformation. The President said the plan will also ensure social development and protection, disaster resilience, digital transformation, and interisland connectivity. “We can talk about economic policies and obscure numbers and data as long as we want to. But it is the life of the ordinary Filipino, more than just the numbers and the realm of data and statistics. It is something that is deeply personal to all of us. It is something that we know requires action,” Marcos said.
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 54.3680
SERIOUS PROBLEMS HOUNDING EDUCATION SYSTEM–VP SARA By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
V
ICE President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte on Monday recognized that serious problems are hounding the Department of Education (DepEd), but vowed to take steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education facilities and services, take good care of learners and teachers. She spoke at Monday’s Basic Education Report 2023 release. The DepEd also launched “MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa,” to set the new direction of the agency and stakeholders in resolving basic education challenges. A ccord i ng to D ute r te, MATATAG will have four critical components: ■ MAke the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; ■ TAke steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services; ■ TAke good care of learners
by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and ■ Give support to teachers to teach better. Addressing 400 education stakeholders, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Duterte laid down the challenges and recent accomplishments of DepEd, before unveiling the new battle cry of the basic education sector. In her speech, Duterte said that the lack of school infrastructure and resources to support the ideal teaching process “is the most pressing issue pounding the Philippine basic education.” “The Department is not blind to the reality that there is a need to build, repair, and maintain school infrastructures/to accommodate the growing number of learners all over the Philippines,” said Duterte, noting there are over 28 million Filipino learners studying in public schools nationwide.
PCCI: To draw investors, LGUs must act like Peza
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HILIPPINE Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George T. Barcelon said the country’s local government units (LGUs) should have the “DNA” of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to promote inclusive growth in the country. “You know why a lot of foreign
companies come to the Philippines and they just flock to PEZA? Because the rules are clear and there’s no regulatory inconsistency. But I think our solution is for the local government to have the DNA of PEZA,” Barcelon said at the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 forum on Monday. See “PCCI,” A2
See “Serious problems,” A2
See “Devt plan,” A2
n JAPAN 0.4192 n UK 67.4000 n HK 6.9449 n CHINA 8.0006 n SINGAPORE 41.4201 n AUSTRALIA 38.5795 n EU 59.0871 n KOREA 0.0442 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.4842
Source: BSP (January 30, 2023)