Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has praised the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) for steering the country’s progress through long-term, evidence-based, and non-partisan planning, as the agency marked its 90th anniversary.

Speaking at the anniversary celebration, Recto said the Philippines’ development gains were built not on political cycles but on disciplined policymaking guided by data, continuity, and a clear national direction.

“We chose to believe that our development should not be dictated by political whims but by data, direction, and discipline,” he said.

Recto, who previously served as Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General in 2008, described the national planning agency—now DEPDev—as the institution that anchors governance amid political noise.

He said DEPDev has long served as the “nerve center of reason” and the “scoreboard keeper” of what truly matters to Filipinos, such as jobs created, investments attracted, infrastructure built, and lives lifted out of poverty.

“Because the true state of the nation is written not in rhetoric, but in economic conditions felt by Filipino families every day—sa presyo ng bigas at pagkain, sa pagkakaroon ng disenteng trabaho, at sa pagkamit ng magandang kinabukasan (in the price of rice and food, in having decent jobs, and in securing a better future),” Recto said.

Recto said DEPDev’s strength lies in its ability to provide stability across administrations, noting that since its establishment in 1935, the planning institution has guided the country through wars, natural disasters, economic downturns, and global crises.

He cited steady poverty reduction as proof of the value of inclusive and data-driven planning, with poverty incidence declining from 23.5 percent a decade ago to 15.5 percent in 2023.

The government, he said, is aiming to bring poverty levels down to single digits by 2028.

“This means that years of planning have sent millions of children to school, have provided millions of families with roofs over their heads, and have given millions of Filipinos more dignity in their daily lives,” Recto said.

Recto paid tribute to DEPDev officials and staff, past and present, calling them “the unsung heroes of the Republic” for providing continuity, clarity, and institutional memory in governance.

He also thanked the country’s development partners for their sustained trust and cooperation, saying international support has been crucial in advancing the Philippines’ long-term development goals.

The Executive Secretary reaffirmed the Marcos administration’s commitment to fully implement the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 and to stay on course toward Ambisyon Natin 2040.

Recto then urged policymakers and stakeholders to sustain a culture of planning that rises above politics and electoral cycles.

“Do not stop dreaming and do not stop planning—para sa Bagong Pilipinas at para sa magandang kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino (for a New Philippines and for the better future of every Filipino),” he said.