A VISION FOR THE PHILIPPINES. Image courtesy of AmBisyon Natin 2040.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — How do Filipinos envision themselves and the country come 2040?
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), in partnership with World Bank’s Knowledge for Development Community (KDC), will present the findings of the long-term visioning project dubbed “AmBisyon Natin 2040” at Xavier University on June 20, as part of its Mindanao leg of sharing and stakeholder consultations.
The event aims to establish a wider coalition for AmBisyon Natin 2040 as it intends to communicate its collective goals to various stakeholders, particularly the youth. It also seeks to document the public’s comments and inputs on the results of the national survey and identify ways and activities to bolster awareness, support, and ownership of the vision.
XU’s Social Development cluster, Economics and Development Communication departments serve as hosts of the CDO validation forum, to be held at XU - Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (Searsolin).
The event sets to draw together leaders from different sectors, namely, the academe, civil society, youth groups, local media, and the business chamber, among others.
The public forum’s panel will be composed of XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, Xavier’s academic vice-president Fr Rene Tacastacas SJ, Oro Youth Development Council chairperson Ernesto Neri, and Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc’s vice president for the agricultural sector Roberto “Bobby” Ansaldo.
Aside from the presentations, panel discussions, and a press conference, a workshop will be conducted to come up with a general alignment and agreement of the participants’ vision for their community and the country from the results of the survey.
The results will be presented by NEDA's OIC-assistant director general for policy and planning Carlos Bernardo O Abad Santos while NEDA's development information director Nerrisa T Esguerra will lead the crafting of communication and advocacy plans after the workshop.
In September 2015, XU became the 18th member of the network of World Bank’s KDCs nationwide, and is one of the three in Mindanao.
The Filipino aspirations
Earlier this month, NEDA released the results of AmBisyon Natin 2040 which contained a long-term vision for the Philippines based on the aspirations, values and principles of Filipinos.
Ten thousand respondents across the archipelago were asked of what they want to achieve for themselves and for the country by the year 2040. The survey was commissioned by both the Philippine Competition Commission and NEDA in March 2015.
The Vision of Filipinos for Self reads: “In 2040, all Filipinos will enjoy a stable and comfortable lifestyle, secure in the knowledge that we have enough for our daily needs and unexpected expenses, that we can plan and prepare for our own and our children’s futures. Our families live together in a place of our own, yet we have the freedom to go where we desire, protected and enabled by a clean, efficient, and fair government."
Meanwhile, the Vision of Filipinos for the Country reads: “The Philippines shall be a country where all citizens are free from hunger and poverty, have equal opportunities, enabled by fair and just society that is governed with order and unity. A nation where families live together, thriving in vibrant, culturally diverse, and resilient communities.”
AmBisyon Natin 2040 also examined the quality of life that people want to have by 2040, and it aims to serve as an anchor for development planning and international development assistance across at least four administrations.
The findings of AmBisyon Natin 2040 revealed that an overwhelming 79 percent of Filipinos aspire for a “simple and comfortable life,” defined as having the following:
• Medium-sized home;
• Having enough earnings to support daily needs;
• Owning at least one vehicle;
• The capacity to provide college education for their children; and
• Going on local trips for vacation.
NEDA director general Ernesto M Pernia told the BusinessMirror that the forthcoming Duterte administration is open to using AmBisyon Natin 2040 for its economic development initiatives.