The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is encouraging local government units (LGUs) to embark on area-based planning that will complement the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016, as well as the regional and local development plans. “We believe in the appropriateness of area plans, as these cross regional or local borders. These plans are based on natural resource features or economic units, and not political boundaries, which will be effective in identifying actual programs and projects that will best address the needs of the area,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr. said in his speech at the Provincial Economic Summit of Surigao del Norte on June 15, 2011. Read More