This is regarding Solita Monsod’s column “Real target growth rate for 2017 is 7-8 percent” (11/18/2017).
We share the same views on the country’s need for inclusive growth and the necessary push that we need in agriculture to make sure that the country’s economic growth would be felt by a majority of Filipinos.
I would just like to point out, however, that the government through the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) targets an economic growth of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent for full-year 2017, taking into account the challenging global economic and financial environment that we have.
The DBCC forecasts the economy to expand between 7 percent and 8 percent from 2018 to 2022.
While the country’s economic performance in the third quarter of 2017 is above market expectations, we agree that we should not rest and sit idle.
This gives us more reasons to work even harder and fully realize the targets outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. That is why President Duterte, through Executive Order No. 27, has directed all government agencies to implement and align their programs and projects with the medium-term development plan. As we expect the economy to keep on growing, the government has a lot of things to do to make sure that this growth will leave no one behind and that all Filipinos will enjoy a “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay” by 2040—our collective long-term vision embodied in AmBisyon Natin 2040.
NERRISA T. ESGUERRA, Director IV, Development Information Staff, nedapr@neda.gov.ph.