Palo, Leyte – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) VIII conducted a briefing on AmBisyon Natin 2040, the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, and the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan (EV-RDP) 2017-2022 for the media folks and information officers of line agencies in the region on 29 December 2017 at Hotel Alejandro, Tacloban City. The briefing aimed to infuse comprehensive understanding of and strengthen partnership between and among NEDA VIII and the members of the local media and the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) in Eastern Visayas in advocating the country’s long-term vision known as AmBisyon Natin (AN) 2040 and rallying support and concrete actions in implementing the PDP 2017-2022 and the EV-RDP 2017-2022.
The AN 2040 embodies the Filipinos’ collective long-term vision of “Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay Para sa Lahat”, which resulted from a national survey spearheaded by NEDA, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The PDP and EV-RDP contain specific strategies that fall under three pillars of “Malasakit” “Pagbabago” and “Patuloy na Pag-unlad” supported by cross-cutting strategies in the areas of peace and security, infrastructure development, resiliency, and ecological integrity.
In his message, NEDA VIII Regional Director Atty. Bonifacio G. Uy said that the advocacy of the AN 2040, PDP and EV-RDP is pursuant to Executive Order No. 5, s. 2016, entitled “Approving and Adopting the Twenty-Five-Year Long Term Vision Entitled Ambisyon Natin 2040 as Guide for Development Planning” issued by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He highlighted the role of the local media and the information officers in shaping the mindset and stirring public participation in realizing AN 2040 through the PDP and the EV-RDP, with the latter spelling out Eastern Visayas’ contributions in attaining the goals of national development.
On the part of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) VIII, OIC-Regional Director Alicia Nicart assured that their office will continue to extend full support to NEDA in carrying out directives of the President and all other efforts that will bring the Filipinos, including the media people, to having a comfortable and secure life. The same commitment of support was also given by AGIO VIII President Francisco Rosaroso of DA VIII.
NEDA VIII Chief of the Development Research Division Jam M. Colas, who presented the AN 2040 and the two plans, said that the realization of the country’s long-term vision will run across four administrations. It is crucial that the three succeeding administrations and every single Filipino warm body will support and continue to work hard in achieving the AmBisyon Natin 2040.
Meliza Y. Bacolbas, DRD, NEDA VIII
