Palace welcomes approval of 2017 investment priorities plan

In a press briefing in Malacañan on Tuesday,Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the priority investment areas will be in manufacturing, including agri-processing, agriculture, fishery and forestry, strategic services, infrastructure and logistics, including local government unit and public-private partnership, and health care services, including drug rehabilitation. (PCOO photo)

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte approved the 2017 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) aimed at fostering a sound business environment across the regions.

In a press briefing in Malacañan on Tuesday,Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the priority investment areas will be in manufacturing, including agri-processing, agriculture, fishery and forestry, strategic services, infrastructure and logistics, including local government unit and public-private partnership, and health care services, including drug rehabilitation.

Mass housing, inclusive business models, environment and climate change, innovation drivers, energy and export businesses are also included.

Abella also announced that the Duterte administration’s Philippine Development Plan ‎‎2017-2022 is now available in the official website of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The Philippine Development Plan ‎‎2017-2022 is anchored on the 10-point socio-economic agenda of the Duterte administration.

“This is also the first step in achieving our long-term vision, dubbed as AmBisyon 2040,” Abella said.

In connection with the celebration of Women’s Day on March 8, Wednesday, Abella said the Palace takes pride in the good news that eight out of the 10 Philippine Military Academy (PMA) topnotchers this year are women.

According to Abella, the nation will look up to their scholars–now newly minted women cadets–as inspiration and role models, who will be expected to perform their public duties to the best of their abilities. “We are proud of their achievements in the Academy and expect the best when they serve our Armed Forces where they would decide, lead, motivate, set example and accomplish the mission to defend the Republic,” he said.

On another note, Abella issued a stern warning against those engaging in corruption, noting the President remains committed to fulfilling his campaign pledge of fighting corruption, illegal drugs and criminality.

According to the Palace official, anyone who attempts to bribe any government official “should be scared,” as the law will surely come down full force on them.

Joining Abella at Tuesday’s press briefing were Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) chairperson Rhodora Masilang-Bucoy and executive director Emmeline Verzosa.

Verzosa reported that among the worrisome developments today with regard to women are the high maternal mortality ratios and increasing number of teenage pregnancies.

She hailed the government for passing the Reproductive Health Law, as this gives women better access to modern family planning methods so they can plan their pregnancies and space the number of their children.

The increasing number of teenage pregnancies is the result of a high incidence of premarital sex among young adults which studies show rose from 23.2 percent in 2002 to 32 percent in 2013.

Another challenge to the increasing number of teenage pregnancies is the prevalence of violence against women which could run to millions of cases.

“Violence against women and girls happen not only inside their homes but also in schools, workplaces, streets, public transportation systems and media,” Verzosa said.