NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Amafel Bldg. Aguinaldo Highway, Dasmarinas, Cavite

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

Department of Architecture

National College of Science and Technology

Dasmariñas City, Cavite

In Partial Fulfillment

of Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Architecture

“PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2017-2022

Research Paper”

Noche, Jerick O.
BSARCH-41A1
PROPRAC 2
Submitted to:
Ar. Japhet Ferran
 NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Amafel Bldg. Aguinaldo Highway, Dasmarinas, Cavite
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, being the hallmark medium-term policy
for national development has all to power to change, for better or for worse, the national
reality. I must say, however, that it is a product and a creator of the national reality. As a
product, its words and utterances reflect that of its drafters’ understandings and motivations.
Its words and declarations are brought up by what the Philippines has become and represents
what Filipinos desire to change. As a creator, it has the power to dictate the economy and
thus every Filipinos lives. It’s ripples even are a matter of life and death.

As a policy, it could either be an enabler of continued views of development by the

national elite. That which is purely economic and centered on ever increasing profit. Or a
reformist, that which dismantles structures detrimental to true growth and focus on people’s
rights, well-being and potential and is, above anything, representative of what the poor and
marginalized really aspires. Them who are the most to lose and gain from these policies they
might not even know exists. “By the end of 2022, Filipinos will be closer to achieving their
long-term aspirations. Through this PDP, the current Administration will lay a solid foundation
for inclusive growth, a high-trust society, and a globally-competitive knowledge economy by
grounding its development thrusts on Malasakit, Pagbabago, and Patuloy na Pag-unlad,”
said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia during his presentation at the
NEDA Board meeting.

The Philippine Development Plan contains seven main parts, which include an
overview of the economy, development challenges that lie ahead, and development
strategies thoroughly articulated through chapters on Enhancing the Social Fabric, Inequality-
Reducing Transformation, Increasing Growth Potential, Enabling and Supportive Economic
Environment, and Foundations for Inclusive and Sustainable Development. As identified in
the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, growth in gross domestic product (GDP) is
expected to strengthen at 7 to 8 percent in the medium term. Growth is also expected to be
more inclusive, where overall poverty rate is targeted to decline from 21.6 percent to 14
percent, and poverty incidence in rural areas to decrease from 30 percent in 2015 to 20
percent in 2022. The government also identified in the PDP its target of reducing
unemployment rate from the current 5.5 percent to 3 to 5 percent by 2022. Included among
the targets, also, are higher trust in government and society, more resilient individuals and
communities, and a greater drive for innovation. “We want the Philippines to be an upper-
middle income country by 2022. With the right policies and with mutual trust between
government and the citizenry, this is very possible,” said Secretary Pernia.

The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 is founded on three main pillars. First is
Malasakit, which aims to regain people’s trust in public institutions and cultivate trust among
fellow Filipinos. Strategies under Malasakit include promoting awareness of anti-corruption
measures, improving the productivity of the public sector, implementing regulatory reforms,
increasing access to legal aid, pursuing corrections reform, and promoting culture-sensitive
governance and development. Third, Patuloy na Pag-unlad concentrates on increasing
potential growth through sustaining and accelerating economic growth, “this will be done by
maximizing the demographic dividend and vigorously advancing science, technology and
innovation.” Strategies under this pillar will ensure maintaining macroeconomic and financial
stability, and observing fiscal prudence while the tax system is being reformed into a much
 NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Amafel Bldg. Aguinaldo Highway, Dasmarinas, Cavite
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

simpler, fair and equitable one. According to NEDA, “a strategic trade policy will also be
implemented alongside measures to promote competition and establish a level playing field.”
Meanwhile, under these three pillars lie four cross-cutting bedrock strategies, which are, (1)
attaining just and lasting peace, (2) ensuring security, public order and safety, (3) accelerating
strategic infrastructure development, and (4) ensuring ecological integrity and a clean and
healthy environment. Furthermore, to set the direction for future growth, the PDP 2017-2022
espouses a National Spatial Strategy (NSS), recognizing that population, geography, and
cities are engines of economic growth. The NSS was adopted to identify specific strategies
and policies in order to decongest Metro Manila, connect rural areas to key growth areas,
and to improve linkages between settlements for higher resilience against natural disasters.

The PDP 2017-2022 also gives special attention to Overseas Filipinos (OFs) and their
families. It identifies strategies and policies that will work to protect the rights of overseas
Filipinos, improve their quality of life, and integrate them into the country’s development.
NEDA Board members who moved for the approval and adoption of the Plan expressed
appreciation to NEDA for the efforts to formulate the PDP. Secretary Pernia however clarified
that the PDP is not the sole work of NEDA, “but is an interagency effort, as mandated by the
Memorandum Circular issued last October 24, 2016. The Philippine Development Plan is the
product of a Steering Committee composed of Cabinet Secretaries and technical working
groups across agencies,” he added. In expressing his support for the PDP, Finance Secretary
Carlos G. Dominguez said that “the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 is ‘close to a
masterpiece,’ and is unlike any other medium-term development plan I have read.” Following
NEDA Board approval, the NEDA will draft an Executive Order that mandates all government
agencies to align respective programs, projects and activities with the Philippine
Development Plan 2017- 2022. The NEDA will work closely with national government
agencies to prioritize identified policies and programs in order to further the country’s
development goals. The NEDA will also be monitoring progress with various inter-agency
committees, and will be reporting regularly its accomplishment of outputs and outcomes
through Socioeconomic Reports.

This Paper hopes to discuss, in parts, and give sense of the entirety of the Philippine
Development Plan2017-2022 through a thorough review, specific examination and detailed
inquiry into the fundamental logic, policy inspiration, strategies and indicators of the Philippine
Development Plan 2017-2022. The Paper then shall provide for what are the major points of
disconnect with the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. The Paper starts with a
discussion on the national and international economic, social and political situations and
realities. In brief in explains the Ambisyon Natin 2040 and then take-offs to discuss, generally,
what is the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 particularly its working logic and overall
framework for the readers.
NATIONAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Amafel Bldg. Aguinaldo Highway, Dasmarinas, Cavite
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE