The Philippine government reinforced its commitment to improving infrastructure, advancing social development, and boosting community resilience at the 60th World Planning Congress, with Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan highlighting the crucial role of strategic development planning in achieving the national long-term vision dubbed Ambisyon Natin 2040.
Balisacan said it is incumbent on the government to build on the country’s progress and drive inclusive growth despite the economic setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Philippines stands at a critical juncture, with the opportunity to protect the gains made and to enhance the economy’s potential for rapid and inclusive growth toward the Ambisyon,” he told the WPC held at the New Clark City earlier this week.
He said many regions have demonstrated significant economic recovery, with growth rates exceeding 6 percent in several areas between 2021 and 2023. “Building critical supporting infrastructure is a prerequisite to achieving sustainable and inclusive development; it is one of the most binding constraints to growth,” Balisacan added.
The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 aims to connect leading and lagging regions to foster inclusivity. Balisacan emphasized the importance of creating livable communities that provide access to essential services.
In addition to infrastructure, the government is focused on enhancing disaster preparedness and environmental resilience, Balisacan said. He said local government units’ disaster preparedness will be strengthened, helping communities identify priority interventions. He added that science-based land management and ecosystem restoration are needed to support community resilience.
WPC was organized by the International Society of City and Regional Planners. Balisacan stressed the goal of creating new economic hubs beyond the capital region and making urban centers more functional and resilient in the face of challenges will spread economic opportunities more evenly across the country.
