Bontoc, Mountain Province – The Cordillera Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) adopted the Cordillera Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 as the blueprint for the implementation of development projects by concerned government agencies and local governments in the region in the next six years.
The RDCs are tasked to prepare their parallel regional development plans aligning regional development directions with national development directions and priorities.
Earlier, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 during its meeting on February 20, 2017, a take-off from President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s 10 point socio-economic agenda and is the first medium-term plan anchored on Ambisyon Natin 2040 which aims to lay a stronger foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust and resilient society, and a globally competitive economy towards realizing the national long-term vision for the country.
Major consultations were undertaken in the drafting of the Cordillera Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2017-2022 including provincial consultations on the updating of the regional physical framework plan, the regional development plan and the regional development investment program from June 7 to July 28, 2016; the regional launching of the Ambisyon Natin 2040 on November 15, 2016; a consultation on the draft Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 on November 23, 2016, and a consultation on the draft RDP on January 9, 2017, and the presentation of the draft chapter write-ups to the different sectoral committees of the RDC from February 7-22, 2017, and the proposed regional spatial strategy to the regional land use committee on March 7, 2017.
The RDC-CAR executive committee endorsed the approval and adaptation of the Cordillera Regional Development Plan on its March 15, 2017, meeting pending integration of additional comments and inputs.
Memorandum Circular No. 12 issued by the Office of the President on October 4, 2016, directs the formulation of the Philippine Development Plan public investment program and regional development plans and investment programs for the period 2017-2022.
Executive Order No. 5 series of 2016 adopted the Ambisyon Natin 2040, the 25-year long-term vision for the Philippines to wit: by 2040 will be a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor, other people will live long and healthy lives, be smart and innovative, and will live in a high-trust society.
The RDC-CAR underscored the change in administration from the May 2016 elections required the formulation of a new medium-term development plan that outlines the new directions and priorities of the Duterte administration.
Alongside the preparation of the Philippine Development Plan or the Philippine Investment Plan, and the regional development and investment plans in the 17 regions in the country, were subsequent issuances that strengthened the crafting and updating of new development plans to chart the overall development growth in the country in the next six years of the Duterte administration.
By HENT