MANILA, FEBRUARY 24, 2011—President Benigno S. Aquino III will address the 2011 Philippines Development Forum (PDF) to be held Saturday, February 26 in Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.
With the theme, "Implementing President Aquino’s Social Contract to Achieve Inclusive Growth," the forum will be hosted and chaired by the Philippine government and co-chaired by the World Bank.
This year’s meeting is the first under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The PDF, which evolved from the Consultative Group Meetings of the past, has become a primary mechanism for facilitating dialogue among stakeholders on the country’s development agenda. It also serves as a venue for forging consensus and generating commitments and support among stakeholders on key actionable items in the government’s reform agenda.
Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Chair of the PDF, said that he is looking forward to a fruitful discussion and engagement with development partners and other stakeholders.
Secretary Purisima said, "The PDF gives the government a good opportunity to present our priorities so support from development partners can be aligned to these. This way, we can work in a more coordinated and targeted manner to provide greater prosperity to our people."
“This PDF is of special significance because it is the first under President Benigno Aquino’s administration,” said World Bank Country Director Bert Hofman, Co-Chair of the PDF. “We are keen to learn how the development community can support the Philippines Development Plan which operationalizes President Aquino’s Social Contract with the Filipino People.”
Scheduled to present the government’s Philippines Development Plan are Finance Secretary Purisima, Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr., Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
More than 200 participants from national government agencies, local government units, development partners community, private sector, civil society, and the academe are expected to attend.