A REVIEW OF THE PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2017-2022

It’s been three years since the shift of administration happened, from Aquino to
Duterte. This may signify a new beginning, new hope, and a new path for our fellow
Filipino specially the middle-class and the marginalized. With the new governing bodies
taking place, a set of established plans are beginning to unfold to improve the quality of
life of the people as well as the environment. Likewise, this step of the regime is a good
sign because as Seth Godin once said, quote-unquote, the secret of leadership is
simple: Do what you believe in. Paint a picture of the future. Go there, People will follow,
meaning to say, to be a leader, one need to set a clear plan, vision, and action so that
people would listen and follow and that is what the government is pursuing.

“ It tackles the long-term vision of the government to sustain

the aim of every Filipino family by 2040 and that is to live with
a ‘matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay’’

Relating to this, the summary of the outstretched plan of the government is

written in the document entitled “Philippine Development Plan 2017- 2022.” It tackles
the long-term vision of the government to sustain the aim of every Filipino family by
2040 and that is to live with a ‘matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay’ (Secure,
Comfortable, and Serene Life). With this aspirations of the populace as the basis of the
development plan, the government lay-out plan under the 25 year long-term vision of
the regime entitled AmBisyon Natin 2040 (Our Ambition by 2040). It focuses on the four
areas for strategic policies, programs, and projects that will help them reach the same
vision namely: a) building a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no
one is poor; b) promoting a long and healthy life; c) becoming smarter and more
innovative; and d) building a high-trust society. The aforementioned areas will be
discussed further later.
 Furthermore, for this plan to come to life, it is supported by three pillars context
videlicet: Malasakit (Enhancing the social fabric), Pagbabago (Inequality- reducing
transformation), Patuloy na Pag-unlad (Increasing growth potential) – which are
broadened by strategic policies and macroeconomics fundamentals, and built on a solid
bedrock of safety, peace and security, infrastructure, and a healthy environment.

Moreover, this document is comprised of seven parts. The 1st part provides the
whole framework for the plan. The 2nd tackles about improving the social fabric
(Malasakit) for building the foundations for a high-trust society. Part 3 emphasizes the
significance of reducing inequalities in economic development opportunities
(Pagbabago). Part 4 accentuate on increasing growth potential (Patuloy na Pagunlad).
Part 5 is about enabling supportive economic environment, and part 6 stresses the
foundations for sustainable development. Lastly, part 7 provides the institutional
procedures for implementing and monitoring to make sure that what is planned is
implemented.

In order for the government to asses if the abovementioned plan did work, the
following conditions should be evident: i.) the Philippines will be an upper middle-
income country by 2022; ii) growth will be more inclusive as manifested by a lower
poverty incidence in rural areas – from 30 percent in 2015 to 20 percent in 2022; iii) the
Philippines will have a high level of human development by 2022. iv) the unemployment
rate will decline from 5.5 percent to 3-5 percent in 2022; v) there will be greater trust in
government and in society; vi) individuals and communities will be more resilient; vii)
Filipinos will have greater drive for innovation.

On the other hand, talking about the present state of the country in terms of
economy, demography, politics, and physical characteristics, with the land area of
300,000 sq. kms in an archipelagic structure, currently the Philippines acquired a total
population of 107,543,921 as of February 24, 2019, based on the latest United Nations
estimates. It obtains a growth of 1.50% since 2018. By 2025, the population is expected
to grow around 117,664,680 (Worldometer, 2019). CALABARZON with 14, 414, 774
population which is equivalent to 14.27% of total population ranks first among the
regions with largest populace, according to 2015 consensus, followed by NCR, while
Caraga and Cordillera obtained 2.57% and 1.71% respectively making them the region
with least population growth (De la Rosa, 2018). However, even though the country
accumulates a large number of populaces, the economy is continuously unstable.
According to Focus economics (2019), after the drop of economic growth during 2018
due to the inflation that reach up to 6.7% last October 2018, the highest level since the
world economy was worst, there is still a subtle growth narrative in this year, 2019.
Nonetheless, with the TRAIN LAW (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) on the
roll that causes fluctuation in taxes making the goods and services expensive, the
people are more anxious of what tomorrow would bring (Romero, 2019). Moreover, the
unemployment rate is still on the steady pace of 5.5% since last year. Furthermore, it is
presumed that the business confidence for the country would fall down to a near record
low and it is predicted that all-important electronics sector could face difficulty in 2019,
including the downturn in the global tech cycle. Nevertheless, Focus Economics
panelists can still see a positive outlook towards 2019 with the expected GDP
expanding up to 6.3%.

In terms of politics, the political affairs are still not in good state. According to
Timberman 2019, Duterte government track record regarding human rights and
democracy is quite alarming which gains attention locally and internationally. The
combination of the Philippines’ powerful presidency and the pliability of most of its
political body are leading to substantial democratic backsliding. The issues of
Extrajudicial Killings and the never-ending corruption cases continually taint the politics
of our country. According to Mourdoukoutas (2018), Duterte administration slaughters
the democratic system of our country yet, it hasn’t eradicated the system that
reproduces and perpetuates corruption. Nevertheless, key features of the government’s
approach to the economy include running a larger deficit, adopting a more statist
approach to infrastructure development, and continuing increases in social spending.

The administration had set forth four specific strategic policies, programs and projects
over the next 25 years that will help realize the Ambisyon Natin 2040 and through the
above specified plan outlay directs to (a) build a prosperous, predominantly middle-
class society where no one is poor, (b) promoting a long and healthy life, (c) becoming
smarter and more innovative and (d) building a high-trust society. These may seem too
idealistic in view, but may the country acclaim the perfection of the plan toward a better
Philippines.

On the other hand, the administration also emphasized the role of Science, Technology
and Innovation in the success of the visions specially in outperforming the current
agricultural system to an integral leap through feasible studies and research. The
general setup is to incorporate the technologies of Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) in the industry to support the different sectors of the country that
has been for years, uncultivated. These are the agriculture, aquatic, and natural
resources, as well as the industry and energy sectors.

STI or Science and Technology Industry will be one of the supports and innovation of
the sector. The design is also collaborated with Business Innovation programs and
Industry-based Invention Development with a level-up combination of science and
technology. Thus, the country is expecting attention and deals from big companies and
investors that equates labor demand for Filipinos.

The following items are the specific moves in the field of science and technology. First,
the idea of increasing STI utilization in agriculture, industry, and service sectors.
Second, increase the investments in STI-based start-ups, enterprises, and spin -offs.
Third, to enhance the creative capacity for knowledge and technology generation,
acquisition, and adoptions and lastly to strengthen collaboration among actors in the
STI ecosystem.

The proforma give a good outlook of the general strategies for the kick-off of the field of
science in the economy such as commercializing the Research and Development (R &
D) from private and publicly funded dissertations, pushing a strict Intellectual Property
Rights culture, financing MSME’s, strengthen infrastructure, STI adaptations, strong
support for expert Overseas Filipinos and many more.

But a perfect plan also requires a great deal with fund. Thus, the outlay of these
idealistic views for the field of Science and Technology is still encased in constraints
with fund and investments.
 “Stimulating innovation requires increasing investments for
human resource development and infrastructure for developing
an STI ecosystem and fostering partnership among STI
stakeholders.”

Regarding the role of science and technology to nation building, stated in

Republic Act 2067 also known as the “Science act of 1958” is declared to be the
policy of the state to promote scientific and technological research and development,
foster invention, and utilize scientific knowledge as an effective instrument for the
promotion of national progress. This act serves as a basis for the proceeding policies of
the government to promote science and technology for nation building because it is
stated that the government would support the science and technology sector for the
benefit of the nation. Even though this act serves as a good foundation, still the rigidity
of executions is still lacking. It is clearly stated that the government would support the
advancement of science, but because of the lack of funds, it is not implemented very
well.

One example is that, when a Filipino scientist, Aisa Mijeno invented the idea of
lighting an LED lamp with the use of saltwater. If we tried to analyze it, it could be a
great help for our fellow Filipino especially to those who lives in the highlands or in the
shadows of the cities, to the places where electricity doesn’t exist. It could be a stepping
stone for innovation to those cities so that we can achieve the vision of having electricity
for whole nation but because of insufficient funds, it is not executed in our country
instead it is bought by U.S. The invention that would certainly be useful in our state are
neglected by the government.

It may also seem that the Philippines’ excellent and talented Filipino inventors
were not that given a high support by the government. Contrary to the passed law
named Inventors and Invention Incentives Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No.
7459), Article 2 Section 4 of the RA contains the Cash Rewards given by the
government to Inventors stated below:
“ ARTICLE II CASH REWARDS

Sec. 4. Presidential Awards for Inventions. — Presidential awards for inventions

consisting of Cash Rewards shall be granted to patented inventions in the Philippines to
be chosen by a screening committee with members consisting of
technical representatives from the Department of Science and Technology, the Filipino
Inventors Society, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Outstanding investors shall be divided into four (4) categories with the corresponding
cash rewards as follows:

(1) Inventions. (i) First Prize, One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00): (ii) Second
prize, Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00); and (iii) Third prize, Twenty thousand pesos
(P20,000.00);

(2) Utility Models. (i) First Prize, Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00); (ii) Second prize,
Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00); and (iii) Third prize, Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00):

(3) Industrial Design. (i) First Prize, Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00); (ii) Second
Prize, Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00); and (iii) Third prize, Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00);

(4) Creative Research, (i) First prize, Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00); (ii) Second
Prize, Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00); and (iii) Third prize, Five thousand pesos
(P5,000.00); chan robles virtual law library

A round-trip ticket fare in addition to necessary and reasonable expenses but not more
than Three Hundred Pesos (P300.00) a day shall be provided to all provincial
awardees. Upon recommendation of the Screening Committee, all winners may be sent
by the Philippine Government to other countries where their winning inventions or areas
of interest are advanced.
The Screening Committee may adjust the cash awards and the additional expenses

aforecited subject to the approval of the Institute. “

We may say that the government is also giving support to the inventors of our
country, but maybe we don’t just need mere incentives, inventions needs to be
capitalized. The field of Science, Technology and Innovation will always runs constantly
ascending and also a great ace of our country for the nation building, for a higher
economy. But because of the lack of capitalization from those who have higher power,
our country who has a set of naturally talented people were always underprioritized. But
we can’t blame Philippines’ low profile in science and advancement. Because it is
undeniable that hunger, crime, poverty, corruption and many more micro-
macroeconomic issues was still left unsolved nor so near to the solution.

Capistrano, Lucy Marie M.

Gallevo, Franzel
February 25, 2017
References:

Buccat (2015). Pinay scientist creates lamp that runs on saltwater. Retrieved from
https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/gadgets-and-tech/08/02/15/pinay-scientist-
creates-lamp-runs-saltwater

Lawphil (n.d.). Republic Act no 2067. Retrieved from

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1958/ra_2067_1958.html

De la Rosa, Fiestada Sanchez,, Mangahas (2018) A PCIJ PRIMER: UNPACKING

FEDERALISM Stats on the state of the regions: Land, population, population
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Focuseconomics (2019). Philippines. Retrieved from https://www.focus-

economics.com/countries/philippines

Mourdoukoutas (2018). Corruption is still a big problem in the Philippines. Retrieved

from https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2018/02/21/the-
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http://manilastandard.net/opinion/columns/business-class-by-rudy-
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