Ejercito renews push for long-term infra master plan

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito renewed on Wednesday his push for Senate Bill No. 2 — the proposed Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act — to establish a long-term and integrated infrastructure roadmap for the Philippines

Specifically, he was proposing a 30- to 50-year master plan.

“The Philippines needs not only sustained infrastructure investment but also a truly integrated national infrastructure masterplan—one that transcends political administrations, connects our roads, railways, airports, seaports, energy, water, and digital networks, and ensures that every project forms part of a long-term vision for national development,” Ejercito said in a privilege speech on Wednesday.

He said the Philippines could no longer afford to keep changing direction for every change in administration. 

“Presidents may come and go, legacies may differ, and priorities may change, but the infrastructure that builds our nation must outlast any one administration,” he said.

READ: Ejercito pushes long-term infra master plan to stimulate growth

Jobs, investments, economic development

Ejercito said the Philippine government needs to move away from fragmented and short-term infrastructure planning.

“The MIND Act allows us to hit two birds with one stone. It will help create jobs, attract investments, and spread out development all over the country,” he said.

Development efforts should not be focused on just Metro Manila, Cebu, or Davao but spread in other areas as well.

Ejercito said the proposed measure would help ensure that infrastructure investments are planned as interconnected systems rather than isolated projects done haphazardly.

A port, he cited as an example, should be supported by roads, railways, warehouses, cold storage, electricity, and internet connectivity. 

Other examples he gave were flood control projects, which he said should be guided by comprehensive river-basin planning, and housing projects, which should be connected to jobs, schools, hospitals, and public transportation.

“May mas mataas tayong pananagutan: ang bumalangkas ng pangmatagalang plano para sa pambansang kaunlaran. Isang planong hindi lamang nagbibigay ng pansamantalang ginhawa, kundi lumilikha ng maayos, dekalidad, at disenteng trabaho para sa mga Pilipino,” he said.

(“We have a higher responsibility: To draft a long-term plan for national development, a plan that will give not only temporary relief, but will create proper, quality, and decent projects for Filipinos,” he said.

READ: DPWH aims to rationalize ‘Luzon-centric’ infrastructure budget

Accountability mechanisms

Ejercito stressed that the MIND Act was not meant to replace existing anti-corruption mechanisms, but it could strengthen accountability by closing gaps in infrastructure planning.

According to him, the proposed framework will require major projects to have clear identifiers, locations, purposes, timelines, costs, and links to the national masterplan to make it easier to track whether they are necessary, properly planned, and aligned with national priorities.

“Kung mayroon tayong malinaw na blueprint na pinagtulungan ng ating mga eksperto, may iisang direksyong susundan ang pamahalaan. Magpalit man ang pangulo, kalihim, engineer, foreman, karpintero, o manggagawa, malinaw pa rin ang kabuuang disenyo ng ating itinatayong bansa,” he said.

(“If we have a clear blueprint developed by experts, the government will have just one direction to follow. There may be a change in the president, secretary, engineer, foreman, carpenter, or laborer, but the entire design for the country we are building will still be clear.”) /atm