President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the government’s economic achievements last year.
The President underscored the need to resonate to the public the achievements that benefit 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 said over the 24th NEDA Board Meeting in Malacañang discussing the Philippine Development Report 2024.
“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 dela Cruz. We’re falling behind in making the connection between what we are doing to the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” he added.
The President acknowledged the government is implementing 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 said.
As an example, President Marcos mentioned the need to highlight the importance of opening the Bataan-Cavite Bridge, which he said, would ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila and open up all other places in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
President Marcos also called for a thorough and consolidated report on the government’s efforts to ensure food security.
He said such reports should explain how these initiatives would benefit Filipino families, why they are crucial for the future, and how they improve overall quality of life.
In a video presentation during the meeting, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan stressed that the government must avoid complacency.
Balisacan reaffirmed his commitment to making economic growth even more inclusive.
For 2025, the government aims to sustain a higher growth trajectory—a gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 6.0-8.0 percent compared to last year’s 6.0 -6.5 percent target; headline inflation rate within 2.0 -4.0 percent; and poverty incidence below 13.2 percent this year and 9.0 percent in 2028.
Balisacan said NEDA will continue to drive social 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.
It will also work together with Congress to secure development priorities to ensure fiscal programs support growth, and institutionalize the regular conduct of monitoring and evaluation and integration in budgeting, planning, and investment programming.
The PDR 2024 highlighted progress on advancing economic transformation and growth, ensuring food and water security, investing in social development, protecting the integrity of the environment toward a climate-resilient nation, ensuring peace and order and national security, and pursuing digital transformation and good governance towards inclusive progress. (PND)
