Civil society weighs in on the MTPDP

THIS review comes from an alliance of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and CSO networks which have been involved in the Millennium Term Philippine Development Plan process. These include the Caucus of Development NGO Networks, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Trade Advocacy Group, Fair Trade Alliance, Rice Watch Action Network, Pambansang Koalisyon ng mga Kababaihan sa Kanayunan, nongovernment organizations for Fisheries Reform, Oxfam, Partido Kalikasan, Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka, Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies, Alyansa Tigil Mina and Haribon Foundation.

The Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) is the government’s development blueprint for six years. It is a document formulated at the beginning of every new administration that identifies priority goals, policies and programs for the country’s growth and development. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) leads in the preparation of the MTPDP, a process that is mandated to involve the executive and legislative branches of the government, as well as members of civil society—marginalized groups, communities and private organizations.

The MTPDP is important because it sets the very direction of the bureaucracy—from the macroeconomic goals, to peace process, to trade targets, to electoral reforms, to the budget. It is with MTPDP 1992 to 1997, for example, that former President Fidel Ramos set his Philippines 2000 vision, initially supported by some sections of the civil society for its adoption of sustainable development framework, continuing with the 1996 launching of Philippine Agenda 21. “ERAP para sa Mahirap” was translated into “Angat Pinoy” Program in MTPDP 1998 to 2004. It is with MTPDP 2004 to 2010 that former President Gloria Arroyo operationalized the Strong Republic vision expressed in her second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

She will later adjust it midway in late 2007 in order to reflect the Super-Regions Plan she revealed in her sixth SONA.

There are currently five Planning Committees, which lead in the drafting of the MTPDP 2011 to 2016.

There are nine chapters of the MTPDP in its current form: (1) Macroeconomic Policy Framework, (2) Industry and Services, (3) Agriculture and Fisheries, (4) Accelerating Infrastructure Development, (5) Financial Sector, (6) Good Governance, (7) Social Development, (8) Peace and Security and (9) Environment and Natural Resources.

On the MTPDP 2011 to 2016 process

Following President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s call for “pakikilahok” and active citizen participation in governance, many civil society organizations (CSOs) have been looking forward to substantial participation in the crafting of the MTPDP. However, in the past months, there have been many roadblocks to such meaningful participation.

From the start of the process, there was a lack of CSO representation in the various planning committees.

The process and criteria for selecting the CSO representatives were also not clear. The rushed manner of the process was of particular concern. This meant late notices for meetings, if invites were received at all.

The CSOs’ requests to obtain copies of the chapter drafts were also often left unheeded. It would have been easy for NEDA to upload the drafts in their websites for public viewing, but until now they have not been made available.

The Regional and National Consultations held this January did not provide enough time and opportunity to provide feedback on the draft MTPDP chapters and the general framework of the plan. CSOs also found themselves repeating comments and recommendations that seemed to have been accepted at these consultations and at the committee meetings, but were eventually not reflected in the updated drafts.

The drafting of the MTPDP is expected to be substantially concluded by early February 2011 with the submission of the draft plan to President Aquino. At this point, CSOs still hope that NEDA will give more opportunities for meaningful participation through:

• Ensuring more CSO representatives in meetings of the Planning Committees and Sub-Committees that may still be held.

• Immediately posting on the NEDA website the latest drafts of the MTPDP chapters once they are prepared.

• Providing a dialogue between CSOs and the Planning and Plan Steering Committee.

• Allowing them to comment in writing on the draft MTPDP before it is presented to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council on January 28, after it is submitted to NEDA Secretary Cayetano Paderanga on February 4, and once more before it is submitted to the President. –Manila Times