“Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022” (http://www.neda.gov.

ph/wp-
content/uploads/2017/12/Abridged-PDP-2017-2022_Final.pdf )

And answer the following questions:

1. Evaluate the given document by answering the following questions:
2. What is the document all about?

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 is the first medium-term plan to be anchored
on a national long-term vision, or AmBisyon Natin 2040, which represents the collective vision
and aspirations of Filipinos for themselves and for the country.

Under the current leadership through broad based consultative processes, the Philippines
Development Plan 2017-2022 was finalized in February 2017. Programme actions under the
framework of change is based on inclusiveness and sustainability and have shown positive change.
The plan envisions Philippines as a society with a stable family and well developed and resilient
communities.

There are 7 parts in the plan containing an overview of economy development challenges, as well as
development strategies on enhancing social fabric, equality, reducing transformation, increasing
growth potential, enabling and supporting economic environment and foundations for sustainable
development.
The plan focuses on overseas Filipinos and their ‘Families’ – to protect Filipinos – to ensure the quality
of life for them and produce jobs at home so that migration is not a necessity but a choice.

Laying the foundation for inclusive growth, a high trust and resilient society and a globally competitive
knowledge economy.

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 is the first medium-term plan to be
anchored on the 0-10 point Socioeconomic Agenda and is geared towards the Ambisyon
Natin 2040 which articulates the Filipino people’s collective vision of a MATATAG,
MAGINHAWA, AT PANATAG NA BUHAY PARA SA LAHAT. It also takes into account
the country’s international commitments such as the 2030 Sustainable Development
Goals.

Under the current plan, the target is to reduce poverty incidence from 21.6 percent in
2015 to 14.0 percent by 2022. This is equivalent to lifting about 6 million people out of
poverty. Specifically, poverty in agriculture and in lagging regions with high poverty
incidence and inequality will be targeted. Individuals and communities will also be made
more resilient by reducing their exposure to risks, mitigating the impact of risks, and
accelerating recovery when the risk materializes. Moreover, innovation will be
encouraged as the country sets its eyes on graduating to a knowledge economy in
order to accelerate growth in the future.

The strategies to achieve the targets cited above are grouped under three pillars:
Malasakit or enhancing the social fabric, Pagbabago or reducing inequality, and Patuloy
na Pag-unlad or increasing growth potential. Chapter 4 discusses the strategic
framework of PDP 2017-2022.

3. Describe the present state of the Philippines in terms of economy, demography, politics
and physical characteristics

https://www.heritage.org/index/country/philippines
The Philippines' economy is considered as one of the most dynamic economies in East Asia and the
Pacific. In 2019, GDP growth rate decreased but remained high, reaching 5.7% according to IMF
estimates. This slowdown is mainly due to a deceleration in investment growth and a weak external
environment. However, the IMF expects growth rate to increase in the following years: 6.2% in 2020
and 6.4% in 2021. Coface forecasts 6.3% in 2019. Key economic drivers include solid fundamentals, a
competitive workforce, a stable job market, steady remittances, and investment in the construction
sector (World Bank).

The Philippines' public deficit was moderate at 1.6% of GDP in 2019; it is expected to remain at 1.6%
in 2020 and 1.7% in 2021. Public debt also remained at a reasonable 39.3% of GDP in 2019 and is
expected to stabilise in 2020 and reduce in 2021 (38.8%). Economic policy is expected to be
supportive of growth. The inflation rate reached 5.2% in 2018 but slowed in 2019 to 2.5%, respecting
the central bank’s target (2-4%). Domestic consumption is expected to remain the main driver of the
economy, accounting for 70% of GDP. Institutional reforms are needed in business freedom,
investment freedom, and rule of law, according to the Heritage Foundation. According to Reuters,
gross international reserves could go from $85 billion in 2019 to $86 at the end of 2020.

The unemployment rate decreased in 2019 to 5.2% and is expected to continue its slow decline in the
following years. Nevertheless, inequality in wealth distribution keeps increasing and underemployment
hovers at 18% of the employable population. The country's Labour Force Participation Rate also
increased to 61.5% as of October 2019, compared to the previous year (CEIC). The population living
below the poverty line has increased in recent years (33% of the population and 75% in some areas of
the southern Philippines). Duterte's administration wants to reduce the poverty rate to 17% and
expects the economy to reach upper-middle income status by 2022.

The Philippines' economy is based on food processing; production of cement, iron, and steel; and
telecommunications, among others. The agricultural sector employs 25% of the labour force but
contributes only 9.3% of GDP. The sector only grew by 0.9% in 2018, showing signs of stagnation.
The Philippines is the second largest producer of coconuts. However, the agricultural sector suffers
from low productivity, weak economies of scale and inadequate infrastructure. President Duterte
ordered government lands to be converted to agriculture use (PhilStar). As for mining, Philippines is
one of the richest countries of the world in terms of minerals with an unexploited mineral wealth
estimated at more than USD 840 billion (Inquirer). The Philippines reserves of copper, gold and zinc
are also among the largest in the world.

The industry sector contributes 30.7% of GDP and employs 18.4% of the population. Industrial food
processing is one of the Philippines' main manufacturing activities. The big industries are dominated
by production of cement, glass, chemicals products and fertilisers, iron, steel and refined oil products.
In 2018, the growth rate for the industrial sector was 6.7%.
The tertiary sector - which represents 59.9% of GDP and employs 56.7% of the country’s workforce -
has developed substantially, particularly in telecommunications, call centres and finance. Service
sectors government goals include attracting investments in human resource development, design,
R&D, finance, and infrastructure; bolstering manufacturing-derived services; and establishing new
ecosystems linked with manufacturing (Department of Trade and Industry and Board of Investments).
The sector grew by 7.4% in 2018. Thanks to a rapid productivity growth in construction, real estate
activities are expected to grow in 2019.

4. What are the four areas for strategic policies, programs, and projects of the present
administration?

5. What are the plans/strategies of the government in terms of advancing science and
technology in our country?
6. Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of their
contributions to nation building