MANILA, Philippines — A bill that would reorganize and turn the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) into a full-blown department has been approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading.
During the session on Tuesday, House Bill (HB) No. 11199 or the proposed Economy, Planning and Development Act was approved with 178 lawmakers voting in the affirmative, while none opposed or abstained.
READ: House bill elevating Neda to department status pushed
Under the bill, the Neda will become the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDEV), while the Neda Board will be turned into the Economy and Development Council (ED Council).
“The DEPDEV shall be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, and monitoring arm of the Executive Branch of government on the national economy,” the bill stated.
“It shall formulate the country’s continuing, integrated, and coordinated policies, plans, and programs for national development for approval by the Economic Development Council; ensure the vertical and horizontal alignment and coherence of national and subnational policies, plans, and programs toward optimal use of financial and economic resources; and oversee the country’s public investment program,” it added.
The bill also states that a DEPDEV secretary will be appointed based on the following requirements:
- a citizen and resident of the Philippines
of good moral character - of recognized probity, competence, and independence
- must be professionally distinguished in public, civic, or academic service in the field of and preferably with a doctorate in Economics
- must have been in the active practice of his or her profession for at least 10 years
- must not have lost in any election within one year after such election
- If enacted, the bill will repeal Executive Order No. 230, series of 1987, and amend EO 292, series of 1987.
Last March 2024, Neda head Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that he supports turning Neda into a department, saying that long-term programs need shepherding, to ensure consistency and growth.
Currently, Balisacan said Neda is not on “equal footing (with) the other departments.”