Palace orders govt agencies to formulate economic plans

Malacañang in its latest legal issuance ordered all Executive branch departments and agencies to formulate their respective medium-term development plans under the term of President Benigno Aquino III. Memorandum Circular (MC) 3 — signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa on Sept.. 2 and released Monday — directed all government departments, offices and instrumentalities, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, to formulate their respective Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) and Medium-Term Public Investment Program (MTPIP) for 2010-2016. “These plans and programs shall have results-oriented focus on national development goals," it said. MC 3 said the MTPDP should included development goals and objectives, strategic policy framework to attain such goals and objectives, strategy planning matrix, result-based priority sectoral activities, and the necessary supportive legislations. The departments and offices should draw inputs from regional offices, the Palace ordered. Plans of all local government units should be consistent with regional development plans and strategies. “All sectors of society, public or private, shall be consulted to the fullest to obtain their opinions and positions on matters related thereto," MC 3 read. All government offices included in the memo were ordered to submit their proposed MTPDP to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Legislative Executive Advisory Council by December 2010. NEDA will coordinate the preparation of the MTPDP and MTPIP for 2010-2016. The agency, which is under Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, will also issue the planning guidelines for the formulation of the economic plans and programs. —Jam Sisante/JE/VS, GMANews.TV