Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan of the Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev) met on Wednesday with United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Arnaud Peral, to solidify the collaborative roadmap for the 2026 fiscal year. The high-level meeting, held at the DEPDev central office, focused on synchronizing international support with the Philippines’ evolving socioeconomic landscape.
During the dialogue, Secretary Balisacan outlined DEPDev’s strategic pillars for the coming year. As the Philippines navigates a complex global economy, the agency is prioritizing a more disciplined, results-oriented approach to development.
The 2026 Key Priorities discussed include:
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Government-Led Prioritization: Ensuring that the Philippine government remains the primary architect of its development agenda.
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Implementation Readiness: Enhancing the technical and logistical preparedness of agencies to ensure projects move from “approved” to “active” without delay.
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Programmatic Coherence: Guaranteeing that all support from international development partners is seamlessly integrated into national programming to avoid redundancy. “Our goal is to ensure that every dollar of development assistance and every peso of national budget works in perfect harmony,” said Secretary Balisacan. “We are moving beyond mere cooperation toward a state of deep strategic integration.”
Secretary Balisacan expressed his gratitude to the UN for its continued adherence to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). This framework serves as the primary instrument for planning and implementing UN development activities in the country, ensuring that various agency-specific programs remain tethered to the Philippines’ long-term vision.
Secretary Balisacan was joined by the Public Investment Staff, led by Director Joseph Norley Y. Capistrano, who provided technical insights into the alignment of official development assistance (ODA) with the country’s multi-year investment programs.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to “sustained strategic dialogue.” Both parties agreed that the partnership must remain agile to address emerging global challenges—such as climate volatility and digital transformation—while remaining steadfast in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
