Stakeholders crafted a priority list of action plans at the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) in Davao City recently to help boost the government’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda in sustaining high growth, reduce poverty and increase the number of available jobs under the Duterte presidency.
At the second day of the PDF in Davao City, action plans drafted include instituting tax administration and budget reforms, using modern technologies to speed up the implementation of projects, investing heavily in human capital and social protection, and accelerating spending on agriculture and transport infrastructure, especially in Mindanao.
Around 400 stakeholders agreed on a series of policies and concerted actions that would flesh out the objectives of the economic agenda to help keep growth at 7 percent, create enough jobs and liberate 1.5 million Filipinos from poverty annually over the next six years.
On macroeconomic policies and tax reform, the group recommended the urgent implementation of tax-administration reforms and a stepped up antismuggling campaigns complemented by improvements in trade facilitation; the passage of a comprehensive tax-reform program; and a targeted transfer program under the 2018 national budget to cushion the impact of revenue-enhancing measures on the country’s most vulnerable sectors.
It also highlighted the need for the full implementation of the executive order on Freedom of Information, the fast-tracking of the implementation of major infrastructure projects through 24/7 construction work; improve the planning and evaluation of projects, including Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programs; provide support to local government units (LGUs) to capacitate them in generating resources and delivering basic services, and help decentralize development from urban to rural areas.
Those that comprised the Rural Development Group said priorities include higher spending on agriculture infrastructure; improving easy credit access and financing; shifting the irrigation paradigm from huge and long-gestating mega projects to small and community-based projects; protecting the rights of farmers and enabling them to own, secure and develop their lands; promoting food-secure, productive and resilient agrarian-reform communities; transforming the Department of Agrarian Reform into an efficient, enhanced, effective and values-driven agency.
The report on human capital development highlighted the need for improved access and quality of health care with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. as the main revenue source for all health-care facilities; conducting a critical review of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the conditional-cash transfer program; creating models of intervention for non-Pantawid and near-poor households; building the capacities of the LGUs in implementing social-protection programs; and raise the quality of education through the implementation of the K to 12 curriculum, and make education truly liberating, relevant and accessible to all.
With regards to the country’s infrastructure and competitiveness, the group recommended putting in place a modern seamless and efficient mass-transport system and enhance connectivity through a multimodal transport network using technologically advanced facilities and services; improve traffic decongestion; continue to pursue the PPP program; and develop rural roads; promoting the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as LGUs; standardizing business permits and licenses; and cutting red tape.
The report of the Mindanao Peace and Development Group underscored the need to speed up the peace process with all insurgent groups; bring socioeconomic development to conflict-affected areas; implement human resources and other development programs to prepare for a new Bangsamoro entity; physically integrate Mindanao through a better infrastructure network; generate investments and promote competitiveness to create jobs and encourage the development of MSMEs; support local industries to prepare for the Asean integration; leverage policies on the role of the The Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area area; and strengthen the Mindanao River Basin Organizations in protecting biodiversity areas.