President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed his satisfaction with the government’s economic accomplishments over the past year during the 24th NEDA Board Meeting in Malacañang on Thursday, where the Philippine Development Report (PDR) 2024 was discussed.
The President emphasized the importance of communicating these achievements to the public in a way that resonates with ordinary Filipinos. “I’m quite satisfied. I’m even proud. I would go as far as saying I’m proud of the things that we have achieved,” President Marcos stated.
He added, “But we have to make it known to people that this is what we are doing. So, it has to be in a language that is easily digestible and in a language that makes sense to Juan de la Cruz. We’re falling behind in making the connection between what we are doing to the lives of ordinary Filipinos.”
President Marcos acknowledged the implementation of major structural reforms and projects that may take years to complete. While some projects are finished, the government must explain why others are still ongoing and highlight their long-term benefits.
He cited the Bataan-Cavite Bridge as an example, noting its potential to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila and open up other areas in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
The President also called for a comprehensive report on the government’s efforts to ensure food security. He stressed that such reports should explain how these initiatives benefit Filipino families, why they are crucial for the future, and how they improve the overall quality of life.
During the meeting, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan emphasized the need to avoid complacency and reaffirmed his commitment to making economic growth more inclusive.
For 2025, the government aims to sustain a higher growth trajectory with a gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 6.0-8.0 percent, a headline inflation rate within 2.0-4.0 percent, and a poverty incidence below 13.2 percent this year and 9.0 percent by 2028.
Balisacan stated that NEDA will continue to drive socio-economic transformation by diversifying and developing new growth drivers, enabling the adoption of new technologies, raising economic productivity, and establishing meaningful collaborations with various stakeholders.
NEDA will also work with Congress to secure development priorities, ensure fiscal programs support growth, and institutionalize the regular conduct of monitoring, evaluation, and integration in budgeting, planning, and investment programming.
The PDR 2024 highlighted progress in advancing economic transformation and growth, ensuring food and water security, investing in social development, protecting the environment towards a climate-resilient nation, ensuring peace and order, and pursuing digital transformation and good governance towards inclusive progress.
