LET’S HAVE LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT PLANS!

We are supposed to have “Ambisyon 2040” and the “Medium Term Philippine Development Plan” (MTPDP) for 2023 to 2028 as two separate documents that were officially adapted the government. As I understand it, “Ambisyon” is a road map, while MTPDP is a plan, even if I do not understand exactly what is the difference between the two. Although “Ambisyon” does not seem to be a plan, it does seem to contain some “wishes” of what should happen or what could happen on or before 2040. That sounds good, but it seems that “Ambisyon” is really more of a “wish list”, with no one really accountable whether something happens or not. As I see it, what is obviously missing is a real long term development plan that that goes beyond 2028, and even beyond 2040. In the absence of such a plan, we do not really know what are national targets are beyond those time frames. I say that we must correct this discrepancy, and I also say that we must even plan for 100 years or more, perhaps up to 2128. Every time that a new cabinet member is appointed, he or she comes up with his or her action programs as if his or her programs do not have existing programs at all. While his or her innovative spirit may be good for his or her department, it would be bad if he or she disregards the existing programs. The fact is, all cabinet members are supposed to base their action programs on both “Ambisyon” and the MTPDP for the most part. IKE SENERES/09088877282/01-29-2024