DEPDev Region 3

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: The Philippines’ GDP growth continued to moderate to 2.8 percent in Q1 2026 from 3.0 percent in Q4 2025.

Among the neighboring economies in Asia that have released their first-quarter GDP figures, the country's growth performance trails Vietnam, Indonesia, and China, among others in the region.

Read Secretary Balisacan's full statement here: https://bit.ly/4nbQpoS

𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘: 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝟑 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐮𝐳𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

DEPDev Regional Office 3 staff Mr. Jesito M. Ponio, Jr. and Ms. Bernadette Anne G. Franco served as resource speakers during the YECONDEV Seminar on Poverty Alleviation and Strategic Pursuits in Advancing Nation-Building Amid Present National Challenge on May 6, 2026 via Zoom.

Ms. Franco discussed Central Luzon economic outlook, while Mr. Ponio, Jr. presented the status of the strategic capital projects listed in the Central Luzon Investment Program 2023-2028. Mr. June Dave Patricio from BSP was also invited to deliver a session on financial planning, saving, and budgeting. The seminar was attended by around 270 students and faculty members from the School of Business and Accountancy of Holy Angel University.

𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐍: Ayon sa Labor Force Survey ng Philippine Statistics Authority na inilabas ngayong ika-6 ng Mayo, ang unemployment rate ng bansa ay nasa 5.0% noong Marso 2026. Mas mataas ito kumpara sa 3.9% noong kaparehong buwan ng nakaraang taon, ngunit bahagyang mas mababa kaysa sa 5.2% noong Pebrero 2026. Sa kabuuan, umabot sa 5.3% ang year-to-date unemployment rate, mas mataas sa target range na 4.0–5.0% para sa 2026–2028.

Kung ihahambing sa ibang bansa sa Asya, mas mababa ang unemployment rate ng Pilipinas kumpara sa China (5.4%) at India (5.1%), ngunit mas mataas naman kaysa sa Malaysia (2.9%) at Vietnam (2.2%).

Samantala, bumaba ang underemployment sa 12.3% noong Marso 2026 mula 13.4% noong Marso 2025, na nagpapahiwatig ng bahagyang pagbuti sa kalidad ng trabaho. May karagdagang 1.7 milyong indibidwal ang pumasok sa labor force, kaya tumaas ang labor force participation rate (LFPR) sa 63.3% mula 62.9% noong nakaraang taon.

Ayon kay DEPDev Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, sinisiguro ng pamahalaan ang business at service continuity sa pamamagitan ng pagpapabilis ng mga strategic interventions, sa gitna ng external pressures tulad ng patuloy na tensyon sa Middle East na nagtutulak sa pagtaas ng presyo ng fuel at iba pang input costs, na nakaaapekto sa produksyon at employment.

Basahin ang buong detalye at ang mga hakbang ng gobyerno rito: https://depdev.gov.ph/march2026lfs/

𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝟑 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

PROVINCIAL CAPITOL, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA – The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) - Regional Office 3, in partnership with the Provincial Government (PG) of Pampanga, successfully conducted a two-day capacity-building activity on project development in the Philippine public sector on 22-23 April 2026.

The activity gathered representatives from various offices of the provincial government and aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in project proposal preparation while strengthening their capacity to formulate and implement high-impact programs and projects for the people of Pampanga.

Read full story here:
https://dro3.depdev.gov.ph/depdev-3-equips-pampanga-stakeholders-with-foundational-knowledge-on-project-development/

⚠️ 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐘

The Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC III) would like to inform the public that it 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 authorize any individual to use its name for personal, professional, or business purposes, including but not limited to consulting, facilitating, brokering, representing, endorsing, or soliciting any service, contract or transaction.

The public is further advised to exercise caution in dealing with individuals claiming RDC III endorsement or influence. Such claims are unauthorized unless supported by an official RDC III communication or resolution.

For verification or to report concerns, please contact the RDC III Secretariat through official channels: [email protected] ; [email protected].

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝟑 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐮𝐳𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬

DEPDev 3 Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra delivered her statement on the 2025 economic performance of Central Luzon following the release of the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) and Gross Regional Domestic Expenditure by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on April 23, 2026, in Angeles City.

The PSA reported that Central Luzon’s economy grew by 4.5 percent in 2025, bringing the total GRDP to PhP 2.576 trillion. This was slower than the 6.4 percent growth recorded in 2024 and fell short of the Central Luzon Regional Development Plan target of at least 6.2 percent.

Recounting the challenges the region encountered in the previous year, RD Esguerra underscored the importance of addressing the region’s vulnerability to climate risks and governance issues that hold back growth. As the country deals with the impact of the war in the Middle East, RD Esguerra said the government is prioritizing transportation, logistics, food security, and livelihood. She also emphasized the need to maintain fiscal discipline to safeguard macroeconomic stability and called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, stakeholders, and development partners in restoring Central Luzon’s high growth momentum and ushering inclusive regional development.

Access the full statement here: https://tinyurl.com/DRO3St2025GRDP

𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝟑 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐔𝐩 𝐄𝐏𝐃 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐧𝐬

DMGC, MAIMP*S, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - In celebration of the first anniversary of Department of Economy, Planning, and Development and the Economy, Planning and Development Week (EPDW), DEPDev 3 conducted the Knowledge Exchange with Former NEDAns on 20 April 2026, anchored on the theme, “Keeping the Course, Rallying for Stability and Recovery.”

The activity brought together former officials of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and current DEPDev 3 personnel to promote institutional reflection, knowledge sharing, and intergenerational dialogue. Drawing from the experience, wisdom, and institutional memory of former NEDAns, the exchange generated valuable insights, lessons, and practical guidance to support sound decision-making and strengthen contributions to regional and national development goals.

Discussions reflected both optimism and thoughtful concern regarding the implementation of the DEPDev Law as well as EO 82 that further strengthens the RDCs. Participants reaffirmed DEPDev’s vital role in development planning and policy coordination, while also identifying key challenges related to stakeholder engagement, budget influence, reform sustainability, monitoring effectiveness, and the adequacy of financial and human resources.

The activity likewise honored the legacy of past NEDA leadership through the symbolic recognition of former Directors-General and Secretaries—reinforcing organizational identity, institutional continuity, and a shared commitment to the Department’s evolving mandate. It was attended by members of the NEDA Alumni Association, led by its current Board Chair, former NEDAn and DepEd Usec. Ramon Bacani, joined by distinguished former officials including DDG Florian Alburo, Asec. Greg Pineda, former DRO3 Regional Directors Leon Dacanay and Ver Santos, P*S Dir. Pinky Esguerra, and other esteemed members of the alumni community.

Overall, the engagement underscored the enduring value of collaboration, mentorship, and policy insight from the NEDA alumni community as DEPDev 3 continues to navigate institutional transition and advance stability, recovery, and long-term development in Central Luzon and beyond.