ILOILO City – In a landmark move to future-proof the country’s economic governance, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has been formally elevated to full department status as the newly created Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) under Republic Act (RA) No. 12145, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on April 10, 2025.
DEPDev Region 6 director Arecio A. Casing, Jr. called the reorganization a “new chapter in Philippine economic governance,” adding that the regional office embraces the change as a step toward more inclusive and sustainable progress.
“With its transformation into a full-fledged department, DEPDev is better positioned to ensure coherence in policy direction and more robust coordination of development strategies,” the agency said in a statement.
The transformation aims to institutionalize long-term strategic planning, ensure policy continuity, and equip the government with greater foresight in addressing national and global disruptions.
As a full-fledged executive department, DEPDev is now tasked with aligning national and regional development plans, integrating long-term strategies into budget processes, and strengthening the planning capacities of both national and local governments.
DEPDev-6 also emphasized the importance of futures thinking and scenario planning — functions that are now mandated under RA 12145 — as critical tools in anticipating technological shifts, economic disruptions, and geopolitical uncertainties.
“This is a major leap forward in how we design and implement our development agenda,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, now heading DEPDev. “The establishment of the department is a commitment to resilience, inclusive growth, and development that benefits all Filipinos.”
The reorganization also fulfills Section 9, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution, which envisions an independent economic planning agency under the Executive Branch.
A Broader and Stronger Mandate
Originally established as the National Economic Council in 1935, NEDA evolved through the decades, eventually becoming the country’s premier development planning agency under Executive Order No. 230 (s. 1987). Over time, its role expanded significantly, with oversight over more than 100 interagency bodies and councils, while acting as secretariat to the NEDA Board, Regional Development Councils, the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, and others.
Under the new law, DEPDev now holds greater institutional independence, expanded authority, and a clarified mandate to drive integrated, long-term policy planning and implementation.
The law also mandates the institutionalization of the Planning Call, a reform designed to tighten the connection between planning, budgeting, and monitoring by setting clear standards and accountability mechanisms.
This is expected to minimize inefficiencies, promote transparency, and ensure that government resources are directed toward the most impactful programs and projects.
“As we embrace this transformation, we look forward to building a more equitable and resilient Philippines. DEPDev stands ready to lead the way,” the regional office added./PN