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[av_heading heading=’Western Visayas’ economy growing steadily – NEDA ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, April 4, 2017
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ILOILO City – Western Visayas’ economy was growing steadily, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal cited several indicators for this during the Regional Development Council’s (RDC) recent first quarter meeting.
Western Visayas posted an 8.3 percent gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth in 2015, she said.
Bacal also noted a decreasing trend in inflation – from 2.3 percent in 2015 to 1.9 percent in 2016.
On the other hand, the employment rate in the region increased. From 94.6 percent in 2015, it jumped to 95.1 percent in 2016, she said.
During RDC’s meeting on March 30, it also approved the Regional Development Plan (RDP) of Western Visayas for 2017-2022.
RDP is in consonance with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the long-term vision of the Filipino people for a “prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor” by 2040.
It is also in line with the country’s commitment to meet 17 Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030.
By 2022, Western Visayas hopes to achieve a GRDP growth of from 9.8 percent to 11 percent.
To achieve this, NEDA said the following must be carried out:
* increase agri-fishery production, productivity and profitability;
* develop tourism circuits and destinations
* pursue research and development innovations
* enhance the efficiency of public infrastructure
* promote investments, trade and exports, and
* protect the environment.
RDC is the highest decision- and-policymaking body in Western Visayas. It is composed of governors, city mayors, mayors of capital towns, presidents of league of municipalities, regional directors of national government agencies, and private sector representatives./PN
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