Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri is pushing for the reorganization of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) into the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPD) to better align the country’s economic plans with both national and local government policies.
Economic growth cannot be the work of one agency alone,Zubiri said during his sponsorship of Senate Bill No. 2878, or the Economy, Planning and Development Act.
He added, “We need a whole-of-government follow-through on our economic plans.”
The proposed DEPD would elevate NEDA’s role, granting it the full authority and standing of an executive department.
This reorganization, according to the senator from Bukidnon, would empower the DEPD to push for the implementation of economic policies across government agencies and engage more effectively with foreign stakeholders.
“As the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, they will be in a better position to push for the implementation of their economic plans and policies – and they will be able to engage with other government agencies and offices, as well as foreign political actors, with the full standing and command of an executive department,” said Zubiri.
His proposal would also strengthen regional development by establishing DEPD regional offices to ensure local considerations are integrated into national economic strategies.
“Development has to sprout from the ground up. It’s not wise, effective nor sustainable to draw up a big-picture plan without first considering what is happening on the ground,” he also said.IMT
