NEDA

Cielito F. Habito, a former NEDA director-general, stressed the importance of cooperatives in enhancing farmers' access to financing during a Senate agriculture hearing on August 27, 2025. He highlighted the disparity between cooperative membership rates in the Philippines and Thailand, advocating for the formation of more cooperatives from irrigation associations to improve agricultural support systems. NEDA's role in economic planning continues to be crucial as the country aims to achieve upper middle-income status by 2026.