Tacloban: The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) is optimistic about finalizing the 2023-2028 Regional Development Plan (RDP) for Eastern Visayas by the end of October. Meylene Rosales, the Regional Director of DEPDev and acting chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC), indicated that the department is currently incorporating inputs gathered from a midterm review involving consultations with various sectors and the public.
According to Philippines News Agency, Rosales mentioned that they are in the process of drafting different chapters of the RDP and are on schedule for a publication target of October 30. Initiated in July, the long-term plan assessment involved a series of comprehensive multi-sector and multi-level consultations led by planning committees in the region. Rosales aims to complete the entire update process by the end of October, culminating in an endorsement at the RDC full council meeting.
The midterm review takes into account factors such as oil price fluctuations, the shutdown of the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. in Isabel, Leyte, and load limitations of significant regional bridges like San Juanico, Biliran, Liloan, and Calbiga. The findings from the assessment and strategy review will be integral to the updated RDP, which will be implemented during the remaining years of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.
The 2023-2028 RDP for Eastern Visayas targets an economic growth rate of at least 7.5 percent, a reduction in joblessness to 5 percent, a decrease in poverty incidence to 16.7 percent, and maintaining food and headline inflation rates between 2 and 4 percent. Currently, the region’s unemployment rate is at 2.8 percent for 2024, while poverty incidence was recorded at 20.3 percent in 2023, with an average inflation rate of 3.1 percent last year.
The RDP will focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the services sector by boosting its productive and innovative capacity, promoting the creative and gig economy, and advancing the services workforce. Eastern Visayas, located in the mid-eastern part of the Philippines, serves as a crucial link between the north and south of the country. It comprises six provinces: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
