Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Facebook)

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is confident that it won't take long for the newly-institutionalized Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) to show its benefits.

In a recent statement, Villafuerte said he foresees positive prospects happening later this year with the reorganization and upgrade of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) into the Cabinet-level DepDev.

The DepDev chief will essentially become the country's chief economist, who will be tasked to align local socio-economic plans and programs local government units (LGUs) with the long-term national development goals and thrusts of the executive department.

“Prospects are great for the full-fledged DepDev to harmonize national and local policies and programs on the economy, following the enactment of RA (Republic Act) No.12145 that reorganized  the NEDA into the Cabinet-level DepDev, whose head shall serve as the no.1 adviser of the President on socio-economic planning and development,” Villafuerte said.

“The national government, by way of the new DepDev, is now positioned to better integrate and harmonize the national, subnational, regional, local and sectoral plans and programs by prescribing standards, guidelines, compliance and accountability mechanisms in pursuit of sustainable, high  and inclusive economic growth,” explained the former House deputy speaker.

President Marcos signed RA No.12145 before the Holy Week.

“The DepDev has the mandate to establish firm linkages to enhance decentralization and promote the autonomy of LGUs, which could pave the way to the attainment of the country’s long-term socioeconomic goals,” said Villafuerte, also a former three-time Camarines Sur governor.

Villafuerte is president of the National Unity Party (NUP), one of the major parties under the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas headed by President Marcos.

The Bicolano explained that under the new law, the DepDev shall have a regional office (RO) in every region, except the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and each RO shall be headed by a regional director (RD) whose functions include ensuring that “regional and local development priorities in their respective regions are aligned with the national plans".

Villafuerte said that these ROs shall also “oversee the integration of plans and programs of regional agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), special development bodies, and LGUs into the regional and national plans".

The outgoing NEDA started out as the National Economic Council (NEC), which the then-National Assembly established on Dec. 23, 1935. 

The NEDA had carried out its policy advisory and coordination functions through Executive Order (EO) No. 230, s. 1987, which designated the agency as a technical and research body providing recommendations and assistance to the NEDA Board chaired by the President.

This socioeconomic planning office has served as a secretariat to high-level bodies such as the NEDA Board and its subcommittees, the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Under RA No.12145, the DepDev shall issue major planning instruments like the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), Regional Development Plans (RDPs) and the Public Investment Program (PIP).

The DepDev shall be headed by a secretary to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Commission on Appointment (CA), said Villafuerte, the majority leader of this bicameral body that vets major presidential appointees.