Executive Secretary Ralph Recto – Photo from Ralph Recto/Facebook
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the Marcos administration is committed to carrying out Ambisyon Natin 2040 and the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028.
He spoke on Wednesday during the 90th Anniversary of Socio-Economic Planning, stressing that long-term planning should extend beyond the term of any single administration.
Ambisyon Natin 2040, launched by the Department of Economic Planning and Development, aims to transform the Philippines into a mostly middle-class and prosperous society by 2040.
The Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 focuses on economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction through social and economic reforms.
“Together, they are our bibles in planning — one tells us where we are going, the other tells us how we get there, regardless of who is in office or what crisis we face,” Recto said in his speech.
He noted that crises are inevitable and challenges are generational, explaining that “They cannot be solved by a six-year plan, or a three-year term, or a midnight executive order. That is why long-term, inclusive, and resilient planning is necessary because without it, we would not be sailing the ship of state, we would be simply drifting.”
Recto also reiterated the administration’s goal of bringing the national poverty rate down to single digits by the end of Marcos’ term.
“A decade ago, poverty incidence stood at 23.5 percent. Today, through inclusive growth strategies — even amid a pandemic and repeated global shocks — we have reduced it to 15.5 percent. By 2028, we are determined to bring poverty down to single-digit levels,” he said.
He referenced recent international crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and trade disputes, to underscore the need for forward-looking planning.
“Each crisis was different in form, but identical in consequence. It reminded us of the same truth: countries without plans react. But countries with plans recover, adapt, and emerge stronger,” Recto added.