Recto: PH dev't not dictated by political whims

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto lauded the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development’s (DEPDev) role in building a more resilient and inclusive Philippines through long-term and evidence-based socioeconomic planning.

In his keynote address during DEPDev's 90th anniversary, Recto stressed that the country’s development gains have been achieved not through political cycles, but through disciplined and data-driven policies, placing Filipinos at the center of progress.

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

Recto, who also served as Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in 2008, described the country’s planning agency as the ''nerve center of reason'' in the noise of populism and the scoreboard keeper of what truly matters: jobs created, investments attracted, infrastructure built, and Filipinos 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,” Recto said. 

Recto also cited the country’s steady progress in poverty reduction as proof of the value of inclusive, evidence-based planning, with poverty incidence declining from 23.5% a decade ago to 15.5% in 2023. 

The government is determined to bring poverty down to single-digit levels by 2028, according to the Palace official.

“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 with more dignity in their daily lives over the years,” Recto said.

Meanwhile, Recto acknowledged the DEPDev family—past and present—calling them “the unsung heroes of the Republic” who provide continuity, clarity, and stability in governance.

Recto also thanked the country’s development partners for their continued trust and support, noting that international cooperation has been critical in the Philippines' development through the years.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to fully implement the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 and realize Ambisyon Natin 2040. —VAL, GMA Integrated News