DEPDev Region 3

10/04/2026

𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐊𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐘, 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) commences the observance of Economy, Planning, and Development Week from April 10 to 16 pursuant to Proclamation No. 1205 series of 2026. This underscores the importance of socioeconomic planning in advancing inclusive and sustainable national development.

This comes after the enactment of Republic Act No. 12145 or the "Economy, Planning, and Development Act", which reorganized the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) into DEPDev by strengthening its mandate, institutional independence, and capacity as the primary policy, planning, coordinating, and monitoring arm of the Executive Branch.

Our theme for this year is “𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝙍𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝘼𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝘿𝙋 𝙏𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨,”. DEPDev reaffirms its commitment to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and whole-of-government coordination to support the effective implementation of the Philippine Development Plan, the government's overall blueprint in development planning.

In January, DEPDev released the Executive Report 2026, which provides a consolidated strategies to revitalize the implementation the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028 in response to recent issues.

Read the Executive Report here : https://depdev.gov.ph/executive-report-2026/

10/04/2026

𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝟑 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐂𝐃𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌&𝐄

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE – The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Regional Office 3 provided technical guidance to officials and staff of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on public investment programming and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes on 06 April 2026.

The activity aimed to strengthen institutional capacity and promote alignment of agency plans and programs with the country’s medium-term socioeconomic agenda to ensure more strategic resource allocation and more responsive development outcomes.

During the session, DEPDev 3 Chief Economic Development Specialist, Mr. Jesito M. Ponio, Jr., discussed the fundamentals of public sector planning and emphasized the importance of coherence between agency initiatives and national and regional development priorities.

This was followed by Mr. Al Jonnel L. Espiritu, who presented the public investment programming framework, including key guidelines, requirements, and timelines for the preparation of agency investment programs, critical inputs to the region’s investment planning process.

Ms. Evelyn S. Galang then highlighted the role of monitoring and evaluation in strengthening accountability and improving project outcomes. She also presented the regional M&E system being implemented by DEPDev 3 to effectively track the progress of priority programs and projects across Central Luzon.

In response, BCDA Vice President for Corporate Planning, Ms. Jocelyn Caniones, expressed appreciation for the session and affirmed the agency’s commitment to further strengthening collaboration with DEPDev 3—particularly in the upcoming updating of the regional public investment program.

DEPDev 3 is set to issue the call for the updating of the Central Luzon Investment Program 2023–2028 in the second quarter of 2026, reinforcing efforts toward a more coordinated, evidence-based, and results-oriented development planning and investment programming system in the region.

08/04/2026

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Following the release of the March 2026 Inflation Report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) today (April 7), DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan underscored the government’s efforts to protect Filipinos abroad and provide swift support to transport workers, commuters, and businesses, while expanding the use of diverse energy sources.

The country’s chief economist also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted public services and taking decisive actions that deliver immediate assistance while supporting the country’s recovery and long-term growth.

Read more here: https://depdev.gov.ph/march2026inflation/

08/04/2026

𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐍: Ayon sa ulat ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) ngayong Ika-7 ng Abril 2026, tumaas sa 4.1% ang headline inflation ng bansa nitong Marso 2026 mula sa 2.4% noong Pebrero 2026.

Ang pagbilis ng inflation rate ay dulot ng mas mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng food at non-food commodities.

Ang non-food inflation ay tumaas sa 4.9% (mula 2.8%) nitong March 2026, kung saan ang private transport inflation ay umakyat sa 31.3% (mula -3.1%) dahil sa pagtaas ng fuel prices.

Samantala, ang food inflation ay tumaas din (2.8% mula 1.6%), dala ng pag-akyat ng rice inflation sa 3.6 percent matapos ang 14 na buwan ng deflation. Kasabay nito, tumaas din ang inflation sa mga gulay (6.9% mula 6.1%) at mga prutas (5.1% mula 3.8%).

Ayon sa Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), ang pamahalaan ay kasalukuyang nagpapatupad ng mga hakbang upang matugunan ang pagtaas ng inflation at mabawasan ang epekto ng ongoing conflict sa Middle East sa mga vulnerable households at key sectors ng ekonomiya.

Basahin ang buong ulat: https://depdev.gov.ph/march2026inflation/

06/04/2026

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐎. 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟓, 𝐬. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Declaring the period of 10 to 16 April of Every Year as the "Economy, Planning, and Development Week" and the 10th of April of Every Year as the "Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Day

Visit the Official Gazette website: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/v7mESl

31/03/2026

𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘: 𝐑𝐏𝐌𝐂 𝐈𝐈𝐈 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐈𝐈𝐈 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA — The Central Luzon Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC III) conducted an engagement visit with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region III (BFAR III) to review the implementation of the Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCore) Project, one of the region’s priority programs under close monitoring.

During the briefing, BFAR III highlighted that FishCore is a seven-year initiative designed to strengthen ecosystem integrity and enhance community resilience. In Central Luzon, the project covers the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Zambales, with an estimated 81,731 fisherfolk expected to benefit through sustainable fisheries management, improved productivity, and expanded livelihood opportunities.

As part of its validation efforts, RPMC III is set to conduct site visits to key project components, including the Regional Fisheries Laboratory in Pampanga and the Mangrove Crab Aquasilviculture Livelihood Project in Bataan, to further assess implementation on the ground.

The activity was attended by RPMC III member agencies, including DEPDev (Team Leader), OP-PMS, DILG, and NICA, alongside private sector representatives and the Provincial Project Monitoring Committee of Bataan.

31/03/2026

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐌 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐔𝐙𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃!

You may now read and access the Central Luzon Regional Development Report 2025 (Interim Report) on the official website of DEPDev Region 3 or though this link: https://bit.ly/CLRDR2025Interim

The 2025 Interim Report provides a preliminary assessment of the region’s progress in implementing the Central Luzon Regional Development Plan (CL-RDP) and Central Luzon Investment Program (CLIP). It presents major accomplishments and programs and projects, highlighting stakeholder efforts in advancing socioeconomic transformation in the region. Key development challenges and priority actions were also identified to ensure that national and regional development goals are attained by 2028.

The full report will be available by the second quarter of this year (June 2026).

27/03/2026

26/03/2026

𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐎𝐖: 𝐑𝐏𝐌𝐂 𝐈𝐈𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐧-𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐁𝐲𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧

The Central Luzon Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC III), chaired by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, conducted an on-site inspection of the Pandi Bypass Road Project in Bulacan to assess its progress and ensure its timely implementation.

The project, implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH), involves the construction of a 10.7-kilometer, four-lane bypass road that will connect the Tambubong Exit of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Bocaue to the municipality of Pandi. Once completed, the bypass road is expected to reduce travel time from 30-45 minutes to just 10-15 minutes, significantly easing traffic congestion and stimulating economic growth in the surrounding areas. Initiated in 2020, the project is targeted for completion by 2028.

Joining the DEPDev 3 team during the inspection were representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Office of the President-Presidential Management Staff (OP-PMS), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and the Philippine Information Administration (PIA). Representatives from the private sector and the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) of Bulacan likewise joined the activity.

26/03/2026

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐑𝐃𝐂 𝐈𝐈𝐈 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐑𝐃𝐂 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC III) successfully convened its First Quarter Full Council Meeting and endorsed the FY 2027 Tier 2 budget proposals of 32 regional line agencies (RLAs) and 12 state universities and colleges (SUCs) on 23 March 2026 at the DEPDev Regional Office III, Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, with simultaneous participation via the Zoom platform.

The Tier 2 programs and projects, with a proposed investment total of Php 197.64 billion, are expected to accelerate inclusive economic growth, strengthen social services, enhance governance systems, promote environmental sustainability, and modernize infrastructure across the region, consistent with the strategic priorities outlined in the Central Luzon Regional Development Plan (CL-RDP) 2023–2028 Midterm Update.

The Council also approved the adoption of the RDC III Interim Manual of Operations. While a more comprehensive and updated manual is currently being finalized, the interim Manual will serve as a functional and enabling framework to ensure the continuity, consistency, and efficiency of Council operations. Through standardized procedures and clearer institutional protocols, the Manual is expected to facilitate more timely, coordinated, and evidence-based decision-making.

Read full story here: https://bit.ly/RDC3FC1Q26

24/03/2026

𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯, 𝐀𝐃𝐁, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧

Government stakeholders, climate experts, and development partners gathered at the DEPDev Region 3 Office on 19 March 2026 to enhance and advance the institutionalization and operationalization of the Climate Adaptation Investment Plan (CAIP) for the Pampanga River Basin (PRB), a strategic framework aimed at strengthening Climate Resilience in Central Luzon.

The seminar, organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), aimed to present key outputs as well as discuss practical arrangements for integrating them into PRB’s climate adaptation planning, investment prioritization, and interagency coordination processes.

In her opening remarks, Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra of DEPDev Region 3 underscored the vital importance of the PRB, noting that it is one of the country’s most critical river systems and the third-largest river basin in Luzon. She emphasized that managing this vast river system is a shared, multi-stakeholder responsibility as its condition directly influences flood risk, ecological integrity, and the economic direction of the region.

A key highlight of the session was the presentation of the Climate Risk Assessment (CRA) by BCG, which identified four hotspots for key interventions: the Pantabangan–Carranglan Watershed, Nueva Ecija Floodplains, Candaba Wetlands, and the Pampanga Delta.

To address these risks, the CAIP outlines a pipeline of 12 high-impact project archetypes. These include, among others, delta flood control systems, scaling-up of agroforestry initiatives, and large-scale mangrove restorations, balancing structural engineering with innovative nature-based solutions.

The seminar concluded with a clear path forward toward supporting CAIP for PRB and integrating these adaptation priorities in regional and local development plans, programs and sectoral strategies.

24/03/2026

🔵🟠 Yes! PILIPINAS can ! 🟠🔵

Alam mo ba?

Ang isang taong may Active Tuberculosis (TB) ay maaaring makahawa ng hanggang 10–15 katao sa loob lamang ng isang taon sa pamamagitan ng malapit at matagal na pakikisalamuha (close contact).

❗ Maraming taong may Active TB ang maaaring walang malinaw na sintomas (tulad ng ubo na tumatagal ng dalawang linggo o higit pa, lagnat, pagpapawis sa gabi, at hindi maipaliwanag na pagbaba ng timbang), kaya maaaring hindi ito agad mapansin.

May 2 uri ng TB:
✔️ Active TB – maaaring may sintomas o wala, at maaaring makahawa
✔️ Latent TB – walang sintomas at hindi nakakahawa

Huwag balewalain ang latent TB — isa sa bawat 10 ang maaaring maging active TB kapag hindi uminom ng TB Preventive Treatment (TPT).

Kaya naman, para Protektado, mahalagang:
🩺 Magpasuri – Magpa-X-ray (kahit isang beses sa isang taon) at magpa-test
💊 Magpagamot – May libreng gamot sa mga TB facilities
🛡️ Mag-TPTodo – Uminom ng TPT ayon sa reseta ng doctor

📍 Kumonsulta sa pinakamalapit na health center para sa libreng serbisyo.