The Philippines' central economic planning department becomes GOAP's newest Member, strengthening the country's commitment to measuring the value of nature and the ocean.
The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) welcomes the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) of the Philippines as its newest Member.
DEPDev is the Philippines’ central planning authority under which the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) operates as an attached agency. In April 2025, the former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) was elevated into a full executive department (under Republic Act No. 12145) — a reform that raises the profile of national planning and reflects a broader push toward long-term, evidence-based policymaking. DEPDev is uniquely placed to connect data with decisions across national and regional development plans.
DEPDev’s GOAP Membership builds on a strong national foundation. Under the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act (Republic Act No. 11995), the Philippines has committed by law to measure the value of its ecosystems and integrate that information into economic planning. Under the law, the PSA leads as compiler of the national accounts, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provides ecosystem data, and DEPDev ensures the accounts inform development planning. The goal is to build physical and monetary accounts for the country’s forests, freshwater, and ocean resources, and to progressively integrate them into headline economic indicators such as GDP.
For an archipelagic nation of more than 7,600 islands, whose economy and coastal communities depend directly on healthy seas, ocean accounting offers a practical tool for better decisions — from fisheries and coastal management to climate resilience and investment.
Through GOAP, DEPDev joins a global membership of nearly fifty government agencies, statistical offices, and research institutions working to go Beyond GDP and measure progress toward ocean-based sustainable development. Members share technical standards grounded in the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), capacity-building programs, and practical experience. DEPDev joins fellow Philippine Member the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, and connects with peers across the partnership’s Asia-Pacific Community of Practice.
“We’re delighted to welcome DEPDev to the partnership. The Philippines has shown real leadership through the PENCAS Act and the strengthening of its planning authority, and we look forward to supporting its work to account for the full value of the ocean.” — GOAP Secretariat
About GOAP — The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership enables countries and stakeholders to go Beyond GDP to measure and manage progress toward ocean-based sustainable development and climate action. Its Secretariat is hosted at the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Development Reform at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia.
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