Baguio City – The Cordillera National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-CAR) braces itself for this year’s expected shocks and uncertainties due to the continuing challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic during its work planning on Thursday, January 14.
The agency identified its development directions based on the 2021 agency country development priorities anchored on economic recovery as spelled out by NEDA Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua.
The region’s stakeholders can expect a more visible NEDA this year, as it heightens its advocacy on the updated regional development and investment plans including the COVID-19 Regional Recovery Program. It intends to upscale the dissemination of its various research reports, its project monitoring reports, economic and development situationers, among others.
Moreover, it continues to support the priorities of the Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) particularly on its advocacy for a regional autonomous governance. It also prioritizes support to the administration’s priorities, which include the Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program, and the whole-of-nation approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflicts (ELCAC) though the Regional Task Force.
The agency likewise reviewed its previous year’s accomplishments focusing on the lessons from the global health crises, from its economic impact to the mandatory lockdowns and work-from-home arrangements, among others.
In retrospect, NEDA Regional Director Milagros Rimando said that the lessons from 2020 which ushered a work-from-home arrangement in the public sector provided opportunities while it provided also challenges. “We’ve learned a lot from the uncertainties and there will be a lot of uncertainties for 2021 that’s why there is the need to plan”, she added.
Confident that these priorities will contribute and yield results towards regional economic recovery, NEDA Assistant Regional Director Stephanie Christiansen encouraged the staff to ensure completed staff work in its outputs demonstrating its unique brand of professionalism, integrity and excellence as it serves the RDC and the region. She also echoed Sec. Chua’s message that while NEDA aims to produce and deliver results, safety should not be compromised. By Marissa M. Cabato
