LEGAZPI CITY -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Bicol has welcomed a measure filed in the Lower House, whih seeks to widen the agency's mandate to better pursue the much-needed economic reforms - as provided by the 1987 Constitution.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda authored House Bill 8527, also known as the "NEDA Bill", and aims to convert NEDA into an independent economic planning agency.
Salceda, citing Article XII, Section 9 of the 1987 Constitution, said Congress is mandated to pass a law that would convert NEDA from an interim body into a stand-alone economic planning agency.
Salceda, in a press statement said, reorganizing NEDA into an independent planning government agency is imperative and cannot be ignored because the 1987 Constitution mandates it and because this move is needed to cope with current economic reform initiatives.
Salceda said “the Constitutional provision was not given attention by the country’s legislators for 32 years.”
Agnes Espinas Tolentino, NEDA regional director, said “we are in agreement with the proposal for a strengthen NEDA.”
“In fact, Cong. Salceda, before coming up with his own version of the NEDA Bill, has had consultation with our NEDA officials. Hence, what he has proposed resulted from such consultation," she said.
Tolentino, in an interview said, “our hope for much improved linkage between planning and programming and budgeting will be fully realized once this bill gets to be approved.”
Tolentino, however, said as to the matter of being an independent planning agency, “we believe that we are independent now. For me, independence may vary depending on our concept.”
She said that “if being independent would mean that our head should not be appointed by the President or the agency, budget should not be approved by Congress or the basis for coming up with the Philippine Development Plan should not include the agenda of the incumbent President, then this would truly be independence redefined.”
Salceda, in pushing for his NEDA bill said, “The current set-up of the NEDA as the interim “independent planning agency” is no longer adequate to cope with various reform initiatives on the economy and development.”
Quoting studies by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Philippine Institute of Development Studies, Salceda said the government’s planning, policy-making, programming, and budgeting processes have become fragmented, uncoordinated, and often interrupted.
The implementation of plans, programs, and policies has, at many times, been delayed and inefficient. Even the sensible policies and programs that address root causes of problems and that have long-term impact often get disrupted, discontinued, or not given due attention, he added.
Salceda said his bill would give credence to NEDA’s independence by following reform provisions such as strengthening of NEDA’s oversight functions and the institutionalization of a Planning Call.
“Strengthening NEDA’s oversight function over the Executive Departments will subsequently lead to the synchronization of the government’s planning process with programming and budgeting,” Salceda said. (PNA)
