Table of Contents Regional Development Council Resolutions v Message from the Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning vii Message form the CALABARZON RDC Chairperson ix Foreword form the NEDA Regional Director xi Acknowledgement xiii List of Tables and Figures xvii Part I: Introduction Chapter 1: The Long View 5 Chapter 2: Global and Regional Trends and Prospects 11 Chapter 3: Overlay of Economic Growth, Demographic Trends, and 17 Physical Characteristics Chapter 4: Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 Overall Framework 29 Part II: Enhancing the Social Fabric ("Malasakit) Chapter 5: Ensuring People-Centered, Clean, and Efficient Governance 37 Chapter 6: Pursuing Swift and Fair Administration of Justice 47 Chapter 7: Promoting Philippine Culture and Values 55 Part III: Inequality-Reducing Transformation ("Pagbabago") Chapter 8: Expand Economic Opportunities in Agriculture, Forestry, 69 and Fisheries Chapter 9: Expand Economic Opportunities in Industry and Services 85 Chapter 10: Accelerating Human Capital Development 107 Chapter 11: Reducing Vulnerability of Individuals and Families 125 Chapter 12: Building Safe and Secure Communities 139 Part IV: Increasing Growth Potential ("Patuloy na Pag-unlad") Chapter 13: Reaching for the Demographic Dividend 153 Chapter 14: Vigorously Advancing Science, Technology, and Innovation 165 Part V: Enabling and Supportive Economic Development Chapter 15: Ensuring Sound Macroeconomic Policy 187 Chapter 16: Leveling the Playing Field 213 Part VI: Foundations for Sustainable Development Chapter 17: Attaining Just and Lasting Peace 223 Chapter 18: Ensuring Regional Security, Public Order, and Safety 233 Chapter 19: Accelerating Infrastructure Development 245 Chapter 20: Ensuring Ecological Integrity, Clean and Healthy Environment 275 Chapter 21: Ensuring Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration 301 Part VII: Plan Implementation and Monitoring Chapter 22: Plan Implementation and Monitoring 313 List of Acronyms 317 RDP 2017-2022 Planning Committees 323 iv Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 RDC Resolution Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 | v RDC Resolution vi Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 Message As we embarked on this journey towards real and pivotal change for our country, one of the commitments of this Administration is to reduce inequality and spread economic growth and development to the regions. Being the first medium-term development plan geared to the realization of AmBisyon Natin 2040 or the Filipino people’s collective aspiration for self and the country by 2040, the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 has been instrumental in laying the necessary foundations for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Acknowledging that key to a growth that leaves no one behind regardless of one’s location, the PDP 2017-2022 is the first development plan to have a dedicated chapter on the National Spatial Strategy (NSS). The NSS banks on three core strategies: regional agglomeration; connectivity; and vulnerability reduction to ensure that all regions have access to basic services and to development opportunities. These strategies are likewise reflected in the Regional Development Plans (RDPs). These Plans highlight their respective region’s comparative advantage and identify possible areas of collaboration among neighboring regions. Three years into the Plan’s implementation, we have witnessed significant strides in regional development. Increasingly, big-ticket infrastructure projects covering various sectors are being distributed among the regions. Apart from improving connectivity in areas where these projects are located, these have likewise facilitated access to better services and created economic opportunities for private sector investors and individuals in terms of doing business and securing employment. Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 | vii These developments, coupled with an For the rest of the Plan period, NEDA enabling environment provided by the remains committed to pursuing more passage of key legislations in line with the meaningful reforms and programs for the priorities of the PDP 2017-2022 (i.e., people, while keeping regional development Universal Health Care Law, Universal at the center of our economic growth Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, strategy. With the updated RDPs, we hope and Ease of Doing Business and Efficient to introduce policies and programs for the Government Service Delivery Act to name a creation of more and better jobs, few), we have empowered more Filipinos, improvement of social services, innovative most especially those from the regions, to be activities, and the rollout of infrastructure engaged in and benefit from the country’s projects connecting the countryside to expanding economic activities. growth centers. These key reforms and programs are just the To ensure the fruition of our efforts, once first steps needed in our journey towards again I urge the regions, through the RDCs, AmBisyon Natin 2040. Moving on to the last to continue to steer the course in the next few years of the Plan’s implementation three years to realize our goal of laying a period, the Regional Development Councils solid foundation for a stronger and more (RDCs) through the NEDA Regional Offices, resilient nation for future generations. in close coordination with government agencies and private sector representatives, assessed the gains and recalibrated the strategies to ensure that these are responsive to current and emerging challenges that the regions are facing. viii Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 Message In 2017, the RDC approved the CALABARZON Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2017-2022. After two years, we assessed our performance in the Region against the Plan targets to see how we are faring. Based on this assessment, the Plan was updated. The Updated RDP focuses on the priority strategies, programs, and projects that will ensure we will realize our targets and our vision. It is to be expected that changes have to be introduced to adopt to the requirements of the current and anticipated economic situations which understandably very much affected by the Taal Volcano eruption and the devastation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. I cannot over emphasize the importance of convergence and participatory governance in nation building. We, in the RDC, recognize the crucial roles of both public and private in setting the direction of regional development. The RDC calls for the harmonization of local development plans and the active participation and support of all stakeholders in the implementation of the Updated Plan through the formulation of policies, and proposing programs, projects and activities that are aligned with the Plan targets. With our Updated CALABARZON RDP 2017-2022 and the support of all stakeholders, we are now moving closer to building a secure, comfortable and strongly rooted life for the people of CALABARZON and a brighter and a more secure future for the generations to come. HERMILANDO I. MANDANAS RDC Chairperson Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 | ix x Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 Foreword As the Region continues to be at the forefront of economic development through its attractive investment opportunities, business-friendly environment, excellent industry sector performance, and rapidly increasing labor force, the challenge shifts to sustaining the Region’s positive performance and maximizing its gains. This will ensure that everyone benefits from the economic growth. The Updated Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2017-2022 highlights the relevant issues and concerns encountered during the first two years of the Plan implementation that may hinder the attainment of the Regional targets. Corresponding strategies, programs and projects that will address the identified issues and concerns make up the Plan. It has twenty-two chapters consisted of strategies focusing on enhancing the social fabric (Malasakit), reducing inequality (Pagbabago), and increasing growth potential (Patuloy na Pag-unlad) and included a new chapter on ensuring safe and orderly migration. This RDP is anchored on the country’s long term vision, the AmBisyon Natin 2040, which visualizes the Philippines to be a “prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor” by 2040. It is likewise aligned with the Updated Philippine Development Plan (PDP) which operationalizes the current administration’s 0 to 10 Socioeconomic Agenda. The Regional Development Council, with its several planning committees, spearheaded the formulation of the Updated RDP through a series of consultative workshops. These were participated by representatives from the various sectors of society to guarantee the inclusivity of the Plan and its responsiveness to the needs and demands in the Region. Thus, the Plan is not Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 | xi only made for the people but is created by assessed by monitoring and evaluation of the people. With this, everyone is the achievement of the Plan targets through encouraged to use the Updated Plan as a the Regional Development Report and by guide for development initiatives and to monitoring of the implementation of PPAs ensure that the Region works within a through the Regional Project Monitoring common development framework and and Evaluation System. towards the same goals. The realization of this Plan is a step towards The priority strategies identified in the Plan the realization of our vision of a globally will be translated to priority programs, competitive industrial region where its projects and activities