Agri sector not likely to attain medium-term goals

MANILA, Philippines — The likelihood that medium-term development goals for agriculture, governance, as well as culture and values will be attained remain low, according to a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Results of the 2018 Statistical Indicators on Philippine Development (StatDev 2018) released Tuesday, showed that across sectoral indicators, medium-term goals pertaining to fostering a competitive business climate, as well as environment protection efforts have a high likelihood of attainment at the end of the plan period.

Goals that fall under the following sectors, meanwhile, have a medium likelihood of attainment: overall performance with regards to the total number of indicators, infrastructure, human capital development, macroeconomy, science and technology, industry and services, justice, demographic dividend, social protection, as well as shelter and housing.

Meanwhile, goals that fall under agriculture, forestry and fisheries, governance as well as culture and values, have low likelihood of being attained.

PSA said the yield of 11 out of 12 major commodities as well as the poor provision of support to fisherfolk supported the assumption of low likelihood of attaining development targets in the sector.

In the medium term, the Duterte administration aims to expand economic opportunities for those who are currently engaged in agriculture, fisheries and forestry by substantially increasing the gross value added (GVA) in the sector especially for exported commodities.

In governance, the targeted number of representation of local government units in local development councils are still far from being met.

In the culture and values sector, PSA noted the weak development of indigenous culture and knowledge systems despite the presence of development plans with culture components making the attainment of goals in this sector less likely.

StatDev 2018 contains a total of 307 indicators, 59 percent of which have either high or medium likelihood of attaining targets under the present PDP, while the rest have low likelihood of attainment.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the agency is now finishing a socioeconomic report that would be used as a reference in the mid-term update of the PDP 2017-2019.

“On the part of socioeconomic planning, we are completing the socioeconomic report which takes the score on the administration’s performance in 2018 relative to our development plan 2017-2022,” he said.

“This is so we can do better on the misses and do better still on the hits made in 2018. So we can have a fresh start in the second half of the administration on the needed adjustments…We will also be looking into the infrastructure projects that will need to be pushed harder. As well as those that will need to be continued after this administration.”