The government has presented a long-term development program designed to transform Metro Manila into a highly competitive East Asian metropolis.The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority came up with the ambitious program dubbed “Regional Development Plan for the National Capital Region 2017-2022” which will serve as the region’s framework in socioeconomic development for the next four years.“This is a milestone activity for Metro Manila. We celebrate the completion of a regional development plan for NCR, our own contribution in support of the Philippine Development Plan of the current administration of our President,” said MMDA chairman Danilo Lim.The plan, Lim said, “identifies basic baseline and target indicators that will serve as basis for monitoring the planned implementation and consequently measure NCR’s contribution to making an inclusive, connected and a resilient metropolis in support of Ambisyon Natin 2024.”“Let us use this plan to direct our policy decisions as well as our programs and project development interventions to ensure consistency with the PDP’s strategic framework,” the MMDA chief said

Adoracion Navarro, undersecretary for Regional Development of the National Economic and Development Authority, underscored the roles of concerned government agencies, local government units as members of the Metro Manila Council, and stakeholders as partners in national development.

“To regain people’s trust in public institutions and cultivate trust in fellow Filipinos, malasakit at both ends—from the government and from the citizens—are needed. LGUs are at the forefront of service delivery,” said Navarro.Metro Manila is considered as the country’s premier region, being the center of political, cultural and economic activities, as well as being the key driver of urban development in the Philippines.It ranks 14th among the world’s largest urban cities and 18th among the world’s largest metropolitan areas. It is a home to 12.9 million population based on the 2015 household survey which increases to a million population during daytime.