Business groups welcome Neda’s new role

Business groups on Thursday lauded the transfer of authority to approve reclamation projects to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). The groups said the move was a prudent response to public apprehension over risks that accompanied such projects.

“Amid geohazard warnings and an urban metropolis already straining the limits of its carrying capacity, this measure raises the development bar, requiring all ecosystem alteration to align with sustainable development goals,” the Makati Business Club and the Management Association of the Philippines said in a joint statement.

The two business groups were referring to Executive Order No. 146, which delegated the President’s power to approve reclamation projects to the Neda Board and essentially limited the Philippine Reclamation Authority’s role to process, evaluate and recommend the approval of proposed reclamation projects, most notably in Manila Bay.

“As the agency tasked to coordinate the government’s social and economic development policies, the Neda is in the best position to assess how such projects align with our country’s development goals. We look forward to seeing Neda carry out its mandate toward a broader decentralization of investment … designed to fuel equitable opportunities for all Filipinos,” the groups said.

“By strengthening the regulatory structure … EO 146 sends an encouraging signal that the government is more conscious of pursuing a holistic approach to progress—one that balances the need to generate government revenue streams and employment with the protection of the environment and public safety.”