CEBU CITY, Cebu, June 13 (PIA) -- The National Economic Development Authority Region 7 (NEDA-7) will be pushing for countryside development under the long-term cluster of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program.

Through the countryside development program, Filipinos will no longer have to move to highly urbanized cities in hopes of finding a better job and future. 

The long-term cluster of BP2 Program will be implemented starting 2022, which aims to create economic opportunities in the countryside especially outside Metro Manila.

It will provide rural communities the same opportunities as urban communities by addressing the four key areas: the empowerment of local industries, productivity in the food security and agricultural sectors, the development of the nation’s infrastructure, and the improvement of overall social welfare, health, and employment.

“Ang BP2P nagsugod tungod sa COVID-19 pandemic isip usa sa mga response nga gibuhat sa gobyerno (BP2P started due to COVID-19 pandemic as one of the government's response efforts) and through this program also, our government saw the opportunity to decongest Metro Manila and likewise pushed for countryside development,” said Neil Andrew Menjares, NEDA-7 supervising economic development specialist, during the Kapihan sa PIA on June 10.

According to Menjares, the said program will be a huge boost in empowering the local government units (LGUs) as it gives them more influence in terms of the local development.

Through the countryside development program, LGUs can now implement more programs and projects within their localities.

To support the effective implementation of countryside development, NEDA-7 through its Area Development Planning Section will identify the existing resources of the LGUs in Central Visayas and will establish alternate growth centers that seek to generate dispersed development across the region.

The agency also said that one of the challenges that they will be facing upon executing the programs through the long-term cluster of BP2P is how to sustain the constant communication and coordination between the beneficiaries, LGUs, and lead government agencies.

The BP2 program was first implemented in November 2021 in Central Visayas.

As of June 2022, the said program has provided various assistance and already conducted six dispatches of beneficiaries who returned to the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental. (RGC/PIA7)