Pasay City: The bill seeking to reorganize the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) into the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) passed the scrutiny of the bicameral conference committee meeting held at the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who led the Senate panel, noted that the meeting was completed efficiently and lawmakers from both chambers are anticipating the swift passage of the measure.
According to Philippines News Agency, Zubiri emphasized that this measure will place DEPDev on equal standing with other departments, enabling them to align national and local government units under a unified national development plan. This alignment is expected to result in more employment and development opportunities for the country.
Once established, DEPDev will be responsible for coordinating policies, plans, programs, and projects across various levels to reinforce the role of Regional Development Councils. It will issue a “planning call” to guide the government’s planning cycle and provide training in development planning and policymaking. Additionally, it will collaborate with the Department of Budget and Management to ensure budget appropriations align with long-term goals, engage in scenario planning, and recommend adaptive measures.
The meeting also included Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Representatives Jonathan Keith Flores, Gerardo Valmayor, Joey Salceda, Loreto Acharon, Stella Quimbo, Joeman Alba, and Gabriel Bordado.
House Committee on Ways and Means chair Joey Salceda praised the bill’s approval as a fulfillment of the Constitution’s mandate to create an independent economic planning agency. Salceda highlighted Article XII, Section 9 of the Constitution, which tasked Congress with establishing a dedicated planning body, and mentioned that while NEDA has served a similar role, it was intended to be temporary.
Salceda explained that DEPDev’s creation would provide independence in economic planning and governance by offering objective, evidence-based analyses and recommendations for the nation’s socio-economic betterment. He emphasized that an independent department would ensure that economic decisions are based on facts and evidence.
The bill also seeks to institutionalize mechanisms for regional development and inflation monitoring, including regional development councils and the Subcommittee on Inflation Monitoring. Salceda stressed the importance of “futures thinking” to prepare the country for long-term economic scenarios, suggesting that the Philippines must invest in anticipating future trends to stay competitive in the region.
