The Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., approved several major initiatives on Tuesday (November 4) aimed at improving the quality of basic education, expanding access to clean water and sanitation services, and strengthening social protection for non-regular government workers, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) announced.
A key approval is the Program for Learning Upgrading and School Development (PLUS-D) of the Department of Education (DepEd), with a total cost of PHP38.27 billion. Proposed for Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan financing from the World Bank, PLUS-D seeks to enhance learning outcomes and strengthen education management nationwide from 2026 to 2032.
Goals: Improve literacy and numeracy for Kindergarten to Grade 6 learners, and boost reading and math proficiency for students in Grades 7 to 10.
Focus: System-level interventions, targeted school support, and monitoring mechanisms for public schools.
“This project underscores the government’s commitment to human capital development—ensuring that education reforms reach every Filipino learner, especially those in disadvantaged areas,” said DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, the Council’s Vice Chairperson.
The Council also approved the Accelerating Water Supply and Sanitation for the Poor and Lagging Areas (AWSPSA) project, totaling PHP14.98 billion, also proposed for ODA loan financing from the World Bank. AWSPSA aims to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation services in underserved communities to address public health and local development challenges.
Strategy: Combining capital investments with policy reforms, technical assistance, and institutional capacity-building.
Target Areas: Loboc Cluster (Bohol), Siargao Island (Surigao del Norte), and Jolo (Sulu).
Balisacan emphasized, “Reliable access to clean water is essential to a community’s well-being and development. Through this project, we aim to deliver lasting solutions that safeguard public health, support livelihoods, and uplift the quality of life of Filipino households.”
To close gaps in social protection, the ED Council endorsed a proposed Executive Order (EO) that will facilitate the voluntary deduction and remittance of SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund contributions for contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) personnel in national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs). Local government units (LGUs) are also encouraged to participate.
The proposed EO establishes a voluntary, payroll-based mechanism to make it easier for non-regular government workers to maintain contributions, promoting more inclusive and accessible social protection.
Other Key Council Decisions
The Council also made other significant decisions:
Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Stage II: Approved the revised scope and implementation arrangements to facilitate the completion of remaining works and ensure irrigation water delivery to farmers.
Rice Tariff: Adopted the Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC) recommendation to maintain the current Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate on rice imports at 15 percent until December 31, 2025. Starting January 1, 2026, a more gradual and flexible tariff adjustment will be adopted, ranging from a minimum of 15 percent to a maximum of 35 percent based on changes in international prices.
Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs): Approved amended Guidelines for the Formulation, Prioritization, and monitoring of IFPs to improve coherence, reinforce agency accountability, and ensure strategic alignment with government processes.
“These decisions collectively reinforce our efforts to sustain inclusive growth through sound policies and well-targeted investments that improve service delivery and promote economic resilience,” Balisacan concluded.
